In 2019, Guiyang recorded 229 million visits, up 21.5 percent year-on-year.

Tourism income stood at 309.8 billion yuan, up 26.1 percent.

The city has been named the best destination to beat the summer heat in an annual tourism summit hosted by the China Tourism Academy and the Public Meteorological Service Center of the China Meteorological Administration over the past five years.

The mindset that has led to reduced consumption since the COVID-19 outbreak is changing at an accelerating rate, Chen says.

The city received 8.26 million visits during the recent May Day holiday, about 63 percent of the same period last year. Tourism income recovered by 66.2 percent to 2.83 billion yuan.

Safety measures, including daily sterilizations of public facilities, personal health code checks and a 30 percent cap on attractions' maximum capacity, have been carried out intensively.

The local government has also reduced rents for severely affected tourism businesses and offered them subsidies. Digital coupons for scenic spots and hotels are boosting tourism spending.

Visitors will be able to enjoy 50 percent off all A-rated attractions by the end of the year.

Benefits from tourism have made Wu more acutely aware of the environment's importance.

He and his family also call on guests to protect the ecology.

With the local government's support, Wu has developed a small sewage-treatment system to produce clean water for plants in the neighborhood.

And he has planted cherry, waxberry and peach trees to enhance visitors' experiences.

The goal is to enable more visitors to enjoy the charm of Jiu'an's healthy environment, he says.

Contact the writers through yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn