Five years after swapping spreadsheets for espresso machines, Peng Bailing has brewed something extraordinary in Hubei Village. The 32-year-old former city worker transformed a crumbling ancestral home into Fuqi Little Shop – a cozy cafe that’s become the heartbeat of rural revitalization.
🔨 Using reclaimed materials and vintage farm tools as decor, Peng preserved the building’s soul while creating space for poetry nights and youth workshops. “It’s not about nostalgia,” she says. “It’s about showing rural and urban China aren’t opposites – they’re partners.”
🌱 As a government-recognized “Pioneer New Villager,” Peng has inspired 15+ young entrepreneurs to launch eco-tourism projects in the area. The result? A 40% increase in village tourism this year alone.
📸 Pro tip: Visitors rave about the ‘Mud Wall Latte’ – best enjoyed while browsing rotating exhibits of local folk art. Who knew rural development could taste this good?
