A local-flavored "homestay" in Yanqing. (CGTN Photo)
And now Beijing Shiguang Great Wall Boutique Inn is grander than ever. So much so that on weekends and holidays, its more than 40 guest rooms can't keep up with demand.
"In fact, our rooms are fully booked for the coming Labor Day holiday, and many other guests have been put onto a waiting list," He said. "And for our restaurant, a total of more than 2,000 diners are expected for the four-day holiday. The number could be even bigger during the expo."
Local authorities are behind the restoration of these old yards to boost Yanqing District's rural tourism, which has already taken the lead among Beijing's 16 districts.
"Relying on the impact of both the horticultural expo and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, many businesses are investing in Yanqing. Authorities have also massively funded preservation of the ecological environment. Within just three years, rural tourism has grown by leaps and bounds," said Zheng Aijuan, deputy director of Yanqing's Tourism and Culture Bureau.
Local authorities say that after the expo, many of Yanqing's vacation homes and yards will be redesigned to complement the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, offering a treat for winter sports fans from around the world.
