GUANGZHOU, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chen Hong, 35, quitted his electronics business in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, four years ago to return to his hometown in the province's Chaozhou City and cash in on its booming tourism.

With a history of 1,600 years, Chaozhou is one of the cities in China that still has a section of the old city walls. The overall pattern of the ancient structure is well preserved, with 1,345 cultural relics and historic sites scattered all over the city.

"Like many young people from Chaozhou, I used to rush to big cities in Guangdong looking for jobs in the industrial sector," said Chen.

But, after seeing Chaozhou's tourism industry attain prosperity along with the local government's efforts in the preservation of culture, Chen closed his firm in the provincial capital and set up his first homestay in Chaozhou.

So far, he has opened five homestays. All of the guesthouses are on or near Paifang Street, the city's famous commercial avenue.

The historic road is actually a memorial archway formed by 23 stone arch gates with a terrace that has now been turned into a major commercial street, offering local specialties such as Chaozhou embroidery, wooden carving, sculpture, opera, tea, and cuisine.

Chaozhou is one of the country's major places of origin of overseas Chinese with the number of those living in foreign countries estimated at more than two million.

The protection of the region's rich cultural heritage has made people flow into the city. During this year's eight-day National Day holiday, Chaozhou received nearly 2 million tourists.

"Great efforts have been made for cultural protection, renovation of buildings, and the upgrading of Paifang Street over the past few years. Historic structures have been turned into prime tourist attractions," said Chen.

The street is the central axis of the ancient city with dozens of intangible cultural exhibition halls, hostels, more than 120 inns, several Chaozhou cuisine halls, and more than 30 teahouses.

The studio of Jin Zisong, the provincial inheritor of Chaozhou Woodcarving, a national intangible cultural heritage project, is located on a corner of the Paifang Street.

Jin, with 47 years of experience in the profession, receives a subsidy of 20,000 yuan (2,996 U.S. dollars) a year from the provincial government's intangible cultural heritage protection fund. He has also received government funding of 60,000 yuan since 2015 to pass on his skills to disciples. Ground rent for cultural heritage bases like Jin's studio is exempted by the local government.

Chaozhou Woodcarving dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was added to the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. Hollowed-out woodcarving such as flowers, birds, shrimps, and crabs used to be significant decorations in local buildings.

"The city government often organizes exhibitions to showcase local intangible cultural heritage works. Chaozhou's unique culture has become the soul of the city. With government support, the city is encouraging more and more young people to return to their hometown and take up entrepreneurship," Jin said. Enditem

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