[Photo provided to China Daily]

Spear then applied his design skills to transform the rural site into a tourist resort.

He leased an abandoned village primary school in early 2006 and since then his enterprise has grown to include lodgings, restaurants, value-added agricultural products and crafts.

The Brickyard Retreat is now his main venture and comprises a 25-room heritage hotel and 11 vacation homes dispersed in three nearby villages.

"Our business has grown every year since we started in 2006," says Spear.

When his business started, more than 90 percent of the guests were foreigners.

Today Chinese nationals comprise about 60 percent of his guests.

"I am delighted that so many Chinese guests enjoy and appreciate our offerings," he says.

Visitors to his place enjoy the peaceful environment. And they enjoy hiking, bicycling, exploring nearby villages and trying local restaurants, he says.

Guests also enjoy playing petanque, cards or mahjong in the card room, or soaking in the outdoor jacuzzi.