Coffee park gives village seed-to-cup buzz

Yu says Wang has brought many young people and students to study in the village and he was surprised to learn many of them were satisfied with the arrangement, despite the underdeveloped accommodation conditions back then.

It reinforced Yu's conviction about the village's potential.

Tang Jianguang, founder of a Beijing-based photography and film learning institute for young people, was among the guests invited to the opening of the park.

It was his second visit to the village and he says he was impressed by the big changes in the village's infrastructure and the villagers' excitement.

"They wore traditional costumes, took the initiative to communicate with us, took us on a tour of the village, and invited us to have meals in their homes. They were very proud," Tang says.

Tang plans to bring urban children to experience the geographical and cultural elements of the village and have local children participate in filming and recording their beautiful homes.

"This can help them rediscover the endowments of the village and thus be more willing to stay when they grow up," Tang says.

Looking back, Yu says it has not been an easy ride, as many problems have emerged in the process of establishing the coffee park.

Now that the park is up and running, Yu is full of hope and waiting for the best yet to come.

He says he is looking forward to the coffee plant going into full operation next year, which will offer more employment to the residents.

He is also counting on Wang's team to continuously bring young people from outside to the village, bringing along with them new ideas and concepts.

"I hope that the young people who left home for work in bigger cities can come back and participate in the rural vitalization of their hometown," Yu says. "I also wish that Gaixin will become an inspiring example for urban-rural collaboration."