Arxan city has developed poverty-alleviation tourism in recent years as one of the first national regional-tourism demonstration areas and a China National Tourism Administration "one-on-one" poverty-alleviation city.

Part of the project has been Bailang Forest Folk Culture Industry Development Ltd's souvenir processing.

"Poor locals can work here part time or full time to make tree-bark collages," general manager Xie Caiyun says.

"They can also receive stock dividends."

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says the Hinggan League has been actively combining tourism and poverty alleviation by involving people living in poverty in the travel industry.

The percentage of residents living below the poverty line has seen a dramatic drop in recent years.

Authorities expect the new tourism approaches will further improve local people's livelihood in the near future.