A media delegation from the Vibrant China Research Tour visited Lulikeng village in Changshan county, Quzhou, Zhejiang province, on Aug 10. Once renowned for its lime industry, the small village is now boosting local prosperity through the integration of natural beauty, culture, and tourism.

Abandoned quarries and sheep pens have been transformed into cafes and art galleries. Most notably, two disused lime kilns have been repurposed as a bakery and a library, becoming local tourism hotspots.

This year, the village has attracted over 150,000 visits, boosting the incomes of local villagers.

Tourists line up to buy bread. [Photo/Tide News]

In the 1990s, Lulikeng village thrived with over 100 lime kilns. However, with environmental policies introduced and its industrial transformation around 2000, the kilns were shut down.

Guided by the national green philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", the village seized new opportunities.

With the development of the nearby Sanqu Stone Forest scenic area, villagers opened farm stays. In 2021, the village collective partnered with cultural tourism businesses to convert idle resources into tourism projects, including boutique homestays and cave restaurants.

The lime kilns' transformation is especially noteworthy. One kiln now bakes crispy bread, drawing tourists, while the other serves as a cultural space with geology and literature books.

The shift has increased the incomes of the villagers, with many returning to work locally. The village now boasts 15 homestays and farm stays, generating annual revenue of nearly 3 million yuan ($417,203).