GUARDING THE NATURE

Today, the villagers have embarked on a new mission of preserving nature, years after they laid down their guns.

They have switched to other sources of livelihood such as animal breeding, beekeeping and herb cultivation. The village now has access to electricity supply, and people use electric heaters instead of firewood for heating.

Zhong has become a forest ranger and leads a rangers' squad of 14 people. He has also taken up beekeeping, earning more than 20,000 yuan (about 3,140 U.S. dollars) every year.

Wildlife protection efforts are on full throttle in Xinyi. The rangers' squad has set up infrared cameras in the forest to monitor the wildlife while keeping an eye on any poaching activities.

Thanks to the conservation efforts, the forest area is regaining its natural glory. Two giant pandas with cubs were captured by cameras earlier this year.

"We used to compete to shoot wild animals, but nowadays we only shoot animals with cameras," Zhong said.