[Photo By Peng Nian/CFP]

While it was only in the past decade that Deng, the restaurant owner, understood the concept of environmental protection for long-term reasons, the urge to protect nature has been a tradition of his people, exhibited in their daily activities for long.

They gather leaves and decaying wood for fire. And even when they cut some trees, they "dare not fell too much", he says.

For hundreds of years, a self-sustaining lifestyle has helped Yaoshang. But compared with the country's rapid development in the past few decades, the largely agricultural village has lagged behind. The local government started to encourage ecotourism a few years ago.

"The country is promoting green businesses, and we think it's the way to go," says Pi Guihuai, Party secretary of Shiqian county.

"After all, the mountain is our fortune, and green businesses can turn out gold and silver."

The county also oversees the village's development.

Deng stopped growing rice two years ago. As a farmer, he made only 1,000 yuan ($156) annually. Now, his restaurant sells roasted lamb and chicken, earning more than 7,000 yuan a year, he says. The animals are raised in villages nearby.

"There is a very good amount of biodiversity here on the Foding Mountain, with many protected species of flora and fauna," says Jiang Zhigang, a zoologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is here on a scientific expedition trip.

With their traditions, the local Gelao residents have contributed to this place becoming an ecological corridor that lets "wildlife migrate smoothly", he says.

Contact the writer at sunye@chinadaily.com.cn