On the afternoon of January 23, 2015, the CIFC "Best Crowdfunding Projects" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition and Puzhong Finance 2015 New Year Forum were held in Beijing. Among the crowdfunding roadshow projects that day, the mixed-format crowdfunding project for Xijiang Miao Village, jointly initiated by actor Qidao, travel blogger Chief Village Woman, and Yiming Leading Investment Fund, introduced a professional homestay operation platform—Tujia, designing travel accommodation as a high-yield, principal-guaranteed investment product, which attracted widespread attention and enthusiastic inquiries from many investors present.
As the organizer of the event, Yicang, a leading domestic crowdfunding platform, also launched three major flagship projects: Xijiang Miao Village Homestay, Xiangshan Manor, and Wengxi Ecological Ancient White Tea Manor. Among them, the Xijiang Miao Village Homestay crowdfunding project was the most attention-grabbing of the three.
Launched by celebrities, aimed at practicing "green environmental protection" and "poetic travel"
The Xijiang Miao Village Homestay crowdfunding project was jointly initiated by global traveler Lin Ya (online alias "Chief Village Woman") and renowned actor Qidao, China’s ambassador for Tibetan antelope conservation. It also received strong support as a co-initiator and lead investor from Yiming Leading Investment Fund, managed by angel investor Wu Mingshao. As practitioners of environmental protection and green living, Lin Ya and Qidao deeply resonate with the travel philosophy of "living locally and experiencing local culture," and they were personally involved in the design of the Xijiang Miao Village homestay project.
It is understood that Qidao’s involvement in initiating the Xijiang homestay crowdfunding is related to a movie he starred in. In 2004, Qidao appeared in "Kekexili," directed by Lu Chuan, a film about tracking down Tibetan antelope poachers and protecting the antelopes and their habitat. He played the role of "Liu Dong" and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 5th Chinese Film Media Awards. Since then, he has committed to the path of green environmentalism and poetic travel. This time, together with traveler Lin Ya and an angel investment fund, he initiated the Xijiang Miao Village Homestay crowdfunding project.
In his view, the Miao villages are “poetic dwelling places” hidden behind Xijiang. Here, winters are not harsh and summers are not scorching. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village boasts a profound Miao cultural foundation, with its own unique script, clothing, cuisine, and customs, as well as its own Guzang Festival and Miao New Year, forming a distinctive culture that offers visitors from afar a baptism of another culture. Moreover, the current homestays in Xijiang Miao Village vary greatly in quality, and their capacity is far from meeting the surging number of tourists, making the prospects for the Xijiang homestay crowdfunding very promising.
Professional operation support from Tujia safeguards crowdfunding returns
The Xijiang Homestay crowdfunding project has a professional operations team and an attractive return structure. Once the homestay crowdfunding is successful, it will be managed and operated by Tujia’s professional management team, and made available to more like-minded travelers via Tujia’s apartment and homestay booking platform. Tujia is China’s most professional vacation apartment management platform. In the three years since its establishment, millions of travelers have booked and experienced high-quality non-traditional hotel accommodations such as vacation apartments, service apartments, holiday villas, and boutique homestays through Tujia. Relying on Tujia’s vast user base and professional management system, the returns from the homestay are fully guaranteed.
At the same time, to help more people realize their dream of owning a homestay, the total funding of 2.2 million yuan is divided into two participation methods: reward-based crowdfunding and debt-based crowdfunding. On one hand, the reward-based crowdfunding attracts more individual travel enthusiasts to join. For example, an investment of 1,000 yuan makes you a Tujia member, entitling you to a Tuyou Card worth 1,200 yuan valid for three years, which can be used to book over 80% of Tujia’s listings, along with a VIP card for the Xijiang crowdfunding homestay, offering up to 10% discount on bookings.
On the other hand, for a debt-based crowdfunding investment of 100,000 yuan per unit, investors can receive an 8-year share of the pure profits. To ensure investors have no worries, this product is also designed as a principal-guaranteed, high-yield investment. Not only will the principal be returned after 8 years, but investors will also receive an annual return of 10%, along with extra gifts provided by Tujia, such as a 5,000-yuan Tujia Card, 800-yuan worth of homestay exchange stay rights per year, and permanent discounted stays at the Xijiang Miao Village Homestay. These appealing returns have become a highlight of the Xijiang Homestay crowdfunding project.
"As Tujia’s first crowdfunding project, we are very much looking forward to its launch and operation. We are also willing to open up more distinctive projects and welcome more partners to engage more users through crowdfunding," said Tang Ting, PR Director of Tujia.