RONG'AN, , CHINA

Feb 28, 2014 2:19 AM

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Huang Xiaobang / Xinhua News Agency/Newscom

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Huang Xiaobang

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(140228) -- RONG'AN, Feb. 28, 2014 (Xinhua) -- Villagers are on their way home after a day's work in Tongban Village, Rong'an County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 15, 2013. Forty-six-year-old Long Gexiong was born in the Tongban Village, a small village far away in the mountain areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. About twenty years ago, Long left the hometown for work just like many of his generation chose to do, leaving his father alone at home. As more and more young people moved out of the hometown, the once lively village was on the decline with only a few aged villagers. Reluctant to witness the decay of the village, Long Gexiong went back to hometown with his brother Long Feilian and Long Feizhen. With the money they saved for years, they founded a cooperative in early 2013 to develop the local tourism and cultivate plum trees and grapes. However, starting a new business in such an underdeveloped village was not easy. Long had to work very hard with other workers to overcome various difficulties. In the meantime, the future of the cooperative troubled him. Fortunately, the business has been supported by villagers and local authority. A year's devotion was paid off with significant progress of Tongban: trees planted, roads constructed, guest houses going into operation. Long Gexiong hoped that more tourists will be attracted to the Tongban Village. By then, the village will see the light of prosperity again. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang) (mp)