Employment boost

The park has also created new jobs for low-paid locals.

Liu Jianhong is one of more than 70 people hired after the park was built. The 50-something is tasked with keeping the park clean, pulling up the weeds and keeping things organized correctly.

She earns 2,000 yuan a month, a steady income compared with her previous farming existence.

"I hurt my waist while working in the field, and now it still hurts on wet days. Working here is less tiring for me," she said.

Liu lives a frugal life with her husband, who had surgery in Guangdong. She said the surgery cost the poverty-stricken family a lot of money, but declined to reveal details. The four-strong family used to live in a house made from clay, which could barely withstand windy, rainy days. However, the local government designated the family as impoverished and helped them apply for a public rental house near Liu's workplace.

The park gives Liu hope because her life keeps improving.

She said that if her health allows it, she would like to work at the park for another decade to save up enough money for her son to get married.

The opening of the park also boosted local support businesses nearby, and the number of restaurants and shops has risen.

"We want to attract talent as well, especially people who make cultural and creative products or other support businesses, such as recreational facilities for children or study tours," Xiao said.

As a recreational park, it has a world-class racing BMX course. The Olympic-standard course, the only such training facility in Jiangxi, is one of the nation's top training areas for the sport, which is featured in the Olympics Games.

For many people, the park is a tourist site with breathtaking scenery and historical relics to remember, but many locals like Zou and Liu have seen improvements in their lives as the park has lifted them out of the abyss of poverty and hopelessness.

Zou's only regret is that his father is unable to see his new life.

"I have no worries about making a living now. I have found my path, and I can always earn a living by raising fish. That gives me hope and confidence in the face of future obstacles," he said.

William Xu contributed to this story.