CRI听力: Urbanites' dreams of having a private country house can come true

Driving to the suburbs and spending a joyous weekend with family and friends in a farmer house is an excellent getaway for those who live in big cities. Now Beijingers have the option of renting such a place in Miyun county. Let's take a closer look with reporter Liu Min.

Reporter:
Now farmers from nine villages and towns in Beijing's Miyun county are renting their empty houses and yards to urbanites with the help from local government. The renters can use these houses as second homes for parties, family get-togethers and recreation. (www.hXen.com)

One owner of an empty farm house says his family can even take care of the house when the renters are away.

"They can call us when they come. We can clean the place, and we can also prepare food. They can have a dinner provided by us after their long drive."

The county now has 24 folk tour villages, involving some 2,000 households and 12,000 people. Each household earns a minimum of 8,000-10,000 yuan annually.

But the local government has seen a drop in tourism during the last two years. The tourism bureau of Miyun County helps start the house leasing program to try to give local tourism a boost.

The program encourages villagers rent their empty houses to urban residents. Now there are more than 200 farmer's houses available during the program's first phase. Most of these houses are located in the mountainous area and have beautiful scenery.

Tenants are free to renovate the entire house and yard or a room to their liking. One woman says she is very interested in renting one for her family.

"I drove all the way here to see these houses. I think if I can rent one, then I could do some renovations and decorate the whole place at will!"

Privately rented village houses can also be used for commercial purposes. Renters can run family inn or restaurants to attract travelers.

Wang Zhigang is the tourist office director of Miyun Beizhuang town.

"The urbanites can bring their business ideas to the rural areas. They can also do whatever they want to the places they rent. Maybe in the near future this area can form a special tourist spot run by urbanities."

But some prospective long-term renters have raised questions about what would happen if they rented a room on land that the government decided to requisition.
Vice director of the Miyun Tourist Bureau Jia Limei explains:

"If the land is taken over for other uses later, then the tenants will receive compensation based on the value of investments done above the ground. The owners of the places would get compensation as well according to their land value."

For urbanites with busy lives, owning a private and spacious countryside home and courtyard to enjoy time with family and friends is becoming a new trend in the metropolis.

For China Drive, I'm Liu Min.