In Checun town, Songxian county, under the administration of Luoyang city in Henan province, a group of youthful pioneers have returned to their hometowns, embracing new approaches and experiences to operate countryside retreats.

After working outside for many years — both in China and abroad — Wu Xuelian, 40, decided to return to her hometown in Tonghe village, Checun town, at the foot of Baiyun Mountain in 2021.

"As a post-80s generation, I was always worried about my elderly parents and left-behind children," she said. "Now I can wake up to see Baiyun Mountain and breathe the fresh hometown air. It's very peaceful."

At her eight-room guesthouse, Wu stirred a pot of home-raised chicken soup for guests. She said she was drawn back by the local government's "old house reclamation" program. The authorities also provide low-interest rural loans to help cover renovation costs, she added.

In 2018, the Luoyang government launched the "Old House Reclamation Plan", encouraging creative young and middle-aged residents to transform old houses into themed homestays. Checun town was designated as the pilot town for the program, according to a document released by the Luoyang Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

A total of more than 500 old houses were initially included in the project, and 214 have been reclaimed across Checun town, according to local government data.