Nanzhongdu, once a poor village in Sishui county of Jining, Shandong province, has found its way to prosperity by developing a unique style of crop-planting and promoting rural tourism.

The pitaya (dragon fruit) planting base run by Yao Yunkuan, a local villager, is a site of much commotion from early in the morning, with workers busy harvesting the fruit.

"I now have 20 greenhouses planting strawberry and pitaya," said Yao, adding that pitaya can be picked all year round and has more earning potential than strawberries.

According to the village's Party chief, the village now has 76 greenhouses planting fruit. He said that strawberries are selling for 30 yuan ($4.56) this winter, and the net profit of each greenhouse is about 40,000 yuan.

The village is also promoting rural tourism by taking advantage of the local fruit planting industry as well as folk culture facilities.

A strawberry greenhouse in Nanzhongdu village [Photo/dzwww.com]

A villager harvests pitaya at a greenhouse in Nanzhongdu village [Photo/dzwww.com]

The rustic homestays in Nanzhongdu village [Photo/dzwww.com]

Nanzhongdu village promotes tourism by upgrading facilities and services. [Photo/dzwww.com]