Since the tour program was launched, Jieshang has hosted four rural "red trail" walking events, with the largest drawing up to 700 participants. As visitors flocked to the area, many villagers began setting up roadside stands along the trail to sell locally grown specialties.

　　"One snack stand raked in 700 to 800 yuan (about 110 U.S. dollars) in just half a day," Yan said. "When we went around to check on sales, every villager we met was beaming. That was truly heartening."

　　The growth of "red tourism" is creating tangible job opportunities for locals. According to Yan, the village"s one-day tour itinerary, launched this year, has fueled steady demand for guides, interpreters and drivers. Five farm-stay businesses, including He"s family operation, have now opened in the village, employing dozens of residents.

　　In the meantime, the tourism boom has given a new lease on life to a local red rice variety with a cultivation history of more than 600 years.

　　Grown at an average altitude of 1,500 meters in Gaopo Township, where Jieshang is located, the rice has a long growing cycle and relatively low yields. It used to sell poorly, and villagers had little incentive to plant it.

　　After the project got underway, Jieshang registered a company under the village collective to create the "Jieshang Hongxin" red rice brand, introducing unified purchasing, pricing and marketing. The village also brought in agricultural experts to provide technical support, which significantly boosted farmers" enthusiasm. In 2024, the village"s red rice planting area reached 541 mu (about 36 hectares), and surpassed 800 mu in 2025.