After studying places with similar geological conditions, including Baishan city in Jilin province and Suihua city in Heilongjiang province, Zheng found sika deer a good fit for Lucun.

"The sika deer have a high tolerance of cold weather and are of high economic value. And feeding costs are also low," Zheng says.

He then worked with other village officials to explain the potential benefits of sika deer breeding to the villagers.

With support from the Bailang town authority, Lucun established a sika deer cooperative in 2010.

Many more villagers joined the cooperative after it offered the first members more than 2,000 yuan ($303) in dividends at the end of 2010.

To date, the cooperative has more than 200 breeding deer and produces 500 kilograms of pilas antlers a year.

In 2012, a total of 12 local specialty shops and several homestays were set up to enhance visitor experience and boost tourism.

"Tourists can go around and shop in the village, and purchase something to take back for their family and friends," Zheng says.

Tourism has soared since President Xi Jinping visited Arxan in early 2014.During his visit, Xi praised Arxan for its beauty and expressed hope that tourism would boom in the city.

"We were behind in receiving more tourists and needed to increase the number of restaurants and homestays in 2014," Zheng says.

Thus, Lucun developed the Taoyuan resort to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.