July is the rice planting season. The tan-skinned Feng Jianwei worked in his field on a tractor.

The 35-year-old man quit his job as a white-collar worker after graduating from university, returned to his hometown Zuobu Village in Nanlang Town, and became a farmer. He also developed rural experience infrastructure on his land such as fishing, shrimp catching and barbecuing, which have attracted many tourists from the Pearl River Delta region.

Zuobu Village has a long history and is the hometown of Sun Yat-sen. The village originally had over 2,000 permanent residents. At the beginning of reform and opening up period, many young people left the village to start businesses or work. As a result, there were only 1,000 people left, which made Zuobu like an "empty village".

In recent years, Nanlang has actively promoted young people to return and inject their vitality into the development of their hometown.

Beside the rice fields in Zuobu Village, a glass bookstore shines under the sun. This rural library is the brainchild of Xu Jiajie, a post-1995 young overseas returnee.

"I grew up here and have a deep understanding that not every rural child has access to reading materials. So, I hope to create a public area for them." Xu Jiajie said. "For me, it is not only a job, but also expresses my wish to build a more beautiful countryside."

"Young people are the main hope for rural revitalization," said a spokesperson of the Nanlang local government, adding that young people return to start businesses, which enriches the rural economy and creates a civilized atmosphere for thousands of families.