Xidi village in Qianxian county in the eastern part of Anhui province, has a continuous history extending back a thousand years. But the slow-moving pace of life among villagers has accelerated in recent decades, as a tourist boom has transformed the community.

Xidi village in Qianxian county in the eastern part of Anhui province, has a continuous history extending back a thousand years.

Xidi, is a significant world heritage site. The village has promoted its local culture to tourists since the 1980's, not long after China instituted the reform and opening up program. Major attractions are several ancestral shrines on the outskirts of the village.

Visitors to the shrines were charged less than one yuan RMB for admission. They often stay for days. That small admission fee resulted in a healthy annual revenue amounting to thousands of yuan - quite a tidy sum back then.