[Voiceover] It's lunchtime at Chunlin Inn, the first farm-stay in Yucun Village. The aroma of home-cooked dishes fills the air as owner Pan Chunlin welcomes guests. [Soundbite] Pan Chunlin, Owner, Chunlin Inn; Former Tractor Driver: "We do local flavors right. Our vegetables are homegrown and organic. And our price is just right, perfect for travelers." [Voiceover] Pan's homestay is one of hundreds in this five-square-kilometer village, where forests cover 95 percent of the land. In 2024 alone, over one million tourists visited, generating more than 7.5 million US dollars in revenue. In the 1990s, Yucun thrived on limestone mining and cement production. It was the richest village in the area, but at a steep environmental cost. In 2003, Zhejiang launched a rural green revival program to reverse the damage. Yucun closed its mines and cement plants, a bold move that slashed incomes and left villagers feeling uncertain about their futures. In August 2005, Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited the village. For the first time, he put forward the now-famous concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Pan Chunlin was the first to pivot his living situation, turning his home into a guesthouse. As the local environment improved, business began to flourish. Today's Yucun has brought over 30 hectares back to life while planting 200 more. In 2021, it was named a “Best Tourism Village” by the UN World Tourism Organization. Average incomes have soared from 1,000 in 2005 to over 9,000 US dollars per year in 2024. But Yucun isn't just attracting tourists, it's also attracting talent. Through an initiative called "Global Partners," the village is opening its doors to young people from all over the world to help reimagine rural life. [Soundbite] Yu Xiaoping, Deputy Head, Yucun Village: "We revitalized idle spaces by inviting people with good ideas. Over 60 projects have launched under our 'Global Partners' program." [Voiceover] Yucun has also attracted people from overseas. Jessica from Poland found more than just a job, she found a home here. Now she teaches English, makes videos about rural life, and shares Yucun's transformation with a global audience. Now a mother of two, she hopes more young people, Chinese and international, will come and stay. [Soundbite] Jessica, Resident, Yucun Village: "I feel like I want to show this place from the most beautiful side here. And also I want to encourage foreigners to come here, and I want them to settle down here." [Voiceover] From smoke and dust to clear skies and bamboo forests, Yucun's journey has become more than a local transformation, it's a living case study of how ecology and economy can thrive hand in hand. Today, it anchors a "Greater Yucun," a joint development effort with 24 nearby villages. Its model is being studied by officials, scholars, and rural leaders from around the world, eager to find their own green path to prosperity. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]