Storyline: Xinjiang's courtyard economy creates jobs right at doorstep [Stand_up] Zhu Zhu, Reporter: "Here is the blue fairy tale town in Kazanqi, Yili, Xinjiang." [Voice_over] This old town is home to more than 300 historical buildings from the Qing Dynasty to the Chinese Republican era, with over 20,000 traditional courtyards. You won't find any two gates that look the same here. Now, residents are opening their homes to develop a "courtyard economy," finding jobs right at their doorstep. Some set up dining tables under grape arbors, inviting tourists to bake Xinjiang's naan bread. Others offer unique local experiences. I'm learning how to tint my eyebrows using Usman grass, a traditional Xinjiang herb. [Sound_bite] Entizar Tayilijiang, Resident: "We've used Usman grass since childhood. It helps hair grow — on eyebrows, eyelashes, even the scalp." (Reporter: You use it when you're a child? ) "Babies start using it just 7 or 40 days after birth. Squeeze it into liquid. The color shows up right away. When it's freshly pressed it's green, then it darkens after a while. As kids we liked to draw connected eyebrows. Mothers believed the distance between the brows showed how far away their daughters would marry. They hoped we wouldn't marry too far away. Visitors' tickets often include these activities. So they can try this if they want. Sometimes, as many as 300 to 400 visitors come in a single day to experience it. [Voice_over] Instead of large-scale commercial projects, the local government encourages residents to run their own spaces while maintaining their daily lives. [Sound_bite] Elyar Nurmamat, Tour Guide, Yili–Kazanqi Scenic Area: "Welcoming tourists into courtyards to try different activities allows local residents to earn extra income." [Voice_over] So far, cultural tourism has brought over 3,000 direct jobs, and sparked work opportunities for another 20,000. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]