STORY: Faces of China: Small island in S China sees thriving tourism
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Oct. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:24
LOCATION: HAIKOU, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Xidao Island
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI XIAOYAN, Resident
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIU SHANSHAN, Xinhua correspondent
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI XIAOYAN, Resident
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG LI, Resident

STORYLINE:

Surrounded by the sea, Xidao Island is known for its thriving fisheries and impressive scenery.

With a permanent population of less than 5,000, the island welcomes more than 2 million tourists every year.

The villages on the island have a distinctive local style and charm.

They have been flourishing in recent years thanks to the development of tourism.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI XIAOYAN, Resident
"This is our family's small grocery store. Business is quite good during the peak season. We are also in the process of renovating our house into a homestay, and we're preparing to open it soon."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIU SHANSHAN, Xinhua correspondent
"I wish you a prosperous business! Are there many people around you benefiting from tourism?"

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LI XIAOYAN, Resident
"If there is a small courtyard in front of a house, it is likely to be used as a grocery store or a restaurant. These food shops are thriving because everyone is benefiting from tourism now."

Back in 2017, the walls surrounding the Xidao scenic area were torn down, allowing the fishing villages to merge with the tourism area, transforming Xidao into an integrated resort.

Currently, the island boasts 140 homestays, 66 restaurants, 8 mid-sized supermarkets, and nearly 100 specialty snack shops, showcasing various tourism offerings.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG LI, Resident
"I've been to many places, such as Chongqing and Hong Kong, and visited some well-known homestays in those areas. It made us think about how we could contribute to rural revitalization. With our family's location and resources, we decided to start our own guesthouse right at home."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Haikou, China.
(XHTV)