Island couple with big ambitions

The large, heated bed had warmed the small hut enough to steam the eyeglasses of those entering from outside. Despite a thatched roof, the triangular shape hid an insulation panel that guarantees comfort and relief from the freezing weather.

Yue Tingjun and Xu Xiulan live in this wooden hut on the 15,000-square-meter Yujiawan Island, one of many islets in the Songhua River wetland managed by Shengli village in Heilongjiang.

They ride a scooter over the frozen river to fetch supplies in winter, and the scooter is replaced with a raft in summer.

"We have a home on the shore, but we spend most of our days here, where on winter nights all we hear is the whooshing wind," said Xu, a vivacious woman of 46.

The couple are entrusted with the task of taking care of the islet and surrounding areas, with fire prevention the top priority during the dry winter season. "We used to survive on fishing, but now we can earn 2,000 yuan ($320) a month doing this."

They still catch fish for their own consumption when tourism hits a lull. Yue dug a hole into the ice and used a bucket to fetch water. "The ice is 1 meter thick, and can be thicker if it's colder," he said. "To catch fish through the hole takes some dexterity. Not everyone can do it. The equipment alone costs some 70,000 to 80,000 yuan."

The couple can afford a life of semi-isolation. Their two daughters are away at college, and Yue's mother lives with his younger brother.

In summer, when tourists swarm to the islets, Yue and his wife cook fish soup and make a little pocket money. Yet, entrepreneur Xu is not content with that.

"I want to open a bigger business, a restaurant that offers the best food from this place," he said. "Just imagine how many people will come here five years from now."

Yue Tingjun and his wife Xu Xiulan, who live on a remote island in the wetland, once lived off fishing. Now they rely on tourism. Zhao Yunpeng / China Daily