Tanghuli Village is conveniently located in Yiliu Town, Yizhang County. It’s under the umbrella of Mount Mang Scenic Area. Rich in hot springs, Tanghuli stands as a renowned village for its springs which provide a large amount of water from 38.5℃ to 43.5℃ per day.

 

In the village, hot spring hotels and guest houses have sprung up since 2014 when the springs were developed.

 

Zhong Shenkai, who set up Jinxiu Hot Spring Recreation Co.,Ltd. in Yizhang County, is also the chairman of Tanghuli Spring Association.

 

Zhong Shenkai lost his father when he was 11. Thus, he was then brought up by the villagers living by the mountains and waters. From 1991 to 2017, he worked as a successful manager in the chemistry industry in Shenzhen.

 

Whenever asked about the reason for his return, he would answer it was his deep love for his hometown and the locals that made him come back.

 

Zhong Shenkai measures the temperature of the hot spring.

 

Zhong Shenkai noticed in 2017 that in his hometown hot springs were under construction. Amazed by the changes in his hometown, he began to hatch an idea to construct a hot spring hotel in Tanghuli with his countrymen in Shenzhen.

 

Where Jinxiu Hot Spring Hotel is now nested was then a hollow where 26 local families lived.

 

Drawing inspiration from Shenzhen and paradigms in China’s spring hotel industry, Zhong Shenkai initiated a business model which integrates land, farmers and firms, aiming to establish a multi-functional hot water spring hotel that combines accommodation, catering, in-door and out-door springs, fish therapy as well as family amusement parks.

 

Apart from making sufficient use of the land of the 26 families, the mode increases income for them by allowing their holdings of the company.

 

Besides, the local people can find jobs in the village to make more money. In consequence, the 26 families signed the contract without hesitation.

 

The land and money were ready. Zhong Shenkai was also well prepared.

 

However, two shareholders backed out the next morning, leaving Zhong Shenkai stuck in a dilemma.

 

His wife encouraged him to stick to it. “The 26 families stood by me and the leaders in town came to energize me,” Zhong recalled. In order to overcome the difficulties, he sold out his car and house.

 

Learning that Zhong was short of money, the government of Yizhang County helped him attract investment.

 

A typhoon hit Shenzhen when they called for bids. The leaders of Yizhang County drove all the way to Shenzhen. One of them was in Beijing, calling Zhong to say that he would manage to get to Shenzhen as long as he could get on a plane. Zhong was deeply moved and gave the leader a warm hug when they met.

 

The tender turned out to be a huge success.

 

Tourists enjoy hot springs.

 

There are 38 rooms in Jinxiu Hot Spring Hotel with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the hotel was able to create an annual income of more than one million yuan. Boasting many featured hot springs, it attracts over 1,000 customers to pay for the annual service.

 

As the industry grows, Zhong integrated the spring resources in the village and constituted the association. He hired manners tutors to train the waiters as well as waitresses and organized them to visit and learn from the industry models, promoting Yiliu Town’s hot spring industry.

 

The efficient management of Tanghuli hot springs provides a healthy environment for more featured hot spring hotels and accelerates the industry’s integration into the Mount Mang Scenic Area. Right about now, Tanghuli boasts 44 hot spring hotels and guest houses, offering posts to around 200 people.