As another group of tourists left, the busy Land of Rainbow Homestyle Inn has returned to quiet for a while. Csering , wife of the inn’s owner, Norgyong Dhondup, was quick moving to change sheets, sweep the floors and clean up. Soon, this medium-sized hotel will be ready to welcome another group of visitors.

In southwest China’s Sichuan province, the scenery along road from Litang County in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture to Yading National Road 227 is spectacular. Many tourists are attracted to the area due to the lower altitude, more oxygen, and unique sights, which has provided local residents with income-generating opportunities. This is also where the Land of Rainbow Homestyle Inn is located.

The 40-year-old Norgyong Dhondup was born and raised in Jiawa Town, part of Litang County. Before he became his own boss and opened the family inn, he drove for a living and made around 7000 yuan a year. Back then, his family of five could only live in a rock- and wood-structured home of around 80 sqm, which was very basic. “There was no earthquake protection, and the kitchen and the bedroom were connected.”

As the village began its renovation projects, many families in Jiawa Town became beneficiaries. They were able to move into safe and comfortable housing with elements of Tibetan culture, making the homes extra beautiful.

Norgyong Dhondup was one of the first in the village to start a home inn. His inn has four floors, with a total of 360 sqm in area. The first floor is a store and a restaurant, while the second and third floors are hotel rooms. There’s a total of 18 rooms, with 38 beds, with hot water and wifi available to all. “At our busiest, we had total occupancy and made 2340 yuan per day.”

Before ecology tourism was developed, Jiawa Town mostly focused on herding and farming. “Our herding and farming industry does not have great output, and the outlook is not ideal, but luckily we have such amazing tourism resources here.” Said Niema Tserin, the Party Secretary of Jiawa Town.