However, incoming tourists have brought tremendous changes as the local government has increased investment and strengthened management.

Stone houses decorated with carved granite windows have been erected, and the clean bay and clear sea fascinate tourists.

Chen Bin, 46, was among the first arrivals to strike gold. He visited Shitang in 2017, and decided to stay by operating a homestay.

There were 19 homestays as of 2017, and the number rose to 39 within just one year.

Yang Biao, 56, used to be a fisherman like his father and grandfather. But he gave up his fishing boat and started a hospitality business in 2016.

"Fishing is dangerous and tough. Some of my neighbors even lost their lives. I felt bad and wanted a safe, stable life," he said. "I used to live on the untamed sea. Now I rely on the sunshine."

All of his rooms for the last day of 2019 and the upcoming Chinese New Year have been booked out. During the peak season from July to September, the occupancy rate of his homestay is around 70 percent.

The local seafood industry has also been warmed by the sunshine.

Zheng Jie, 30, grew up in a fishing family on an island. Thanks to the rising popularity of Shitang and its delicious seafood, she started her e-commerce business in 2017.

"When tourists come to enjoy the sunshine, they usually take some local seafood with them upon leaving. And some of them become my regular customers and place orders on WeChat," she said.

【国内英语资讯:Across China: Fishing town cashes in on New Years first sunshine】相关文章：

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