Tucked away in Gyamda County, Nyingchi City, Tibet Autonomous Region, Jiemu Village has found a remarkable new path to prosperity. The Nianlang Wellness Hot Spring, sitting at an altitude of 3,650 meters, now echoes with laughter from both tourists and locals enjoying its steaming pools. This spring has always been there, yet for years it was largely overlooked by the villagers.

Previously, the village relied on harvesting cordyceps from the mountains each April and May for income. As village Party secretary Danzin Tsering explained, digging cordyceps could earn over 2,000 yuan a day, but only for two months annually. With cordyceps prices now falling, the community has turned to the hot spring as its new economic pillar.

In 2014, villagers pooled resources to build the first hot spring pool, marking the beginning of a gradual transformation. The project evolved through poverty alleviation funding in 2016, external contracting in 2017, and a shift to joint household management in 2021. Yet the decisive breakthrough came in 2024, when a 10.52 million yuan investment in the Nianlang Hot Spring Wellness Construction Project brought comprehensive upgrades and renovations.

The hot spring has become a source of healing for the community. Many elderly residents suffering from rheumatism and arthritis report significant relief after soaking in the mineral-rich waters, which have been certified as metasilicic acid type, particularly beneficial for knees and joints.

Since officially opening in August 2025 through the end of July this year, the project has generated cumulative revenue of 2.764 million yuan, with average monthly earnings of 243,000 yuan. The initiative is overseen by the township Party committee and government, with professional management teams brought in by the village collective while residents benefit through employment and dividend distributions.

Danzin Tsering highlighted the employment opportunities created: university graduates working in front desk and management roles earn 200 yuan daily, while villagers in housekeeping, kitchen, cleaning, and security positions receive 150 yuan per day. The entire community has become engaged in the operation.

The dividend system has been particularly inclusive. The first distribution provided 19,000 yuan to 19 households without labor capacity, giving 1,000 yuan to each individual. According to township committee member Deyang Tsogyal, the second distribution reached all 589 villagers, with every person receiving 1,000 yuan. As she proudly noted, even newborn babies are eligible for these dividends.

Among the beneficiaries is 26-year-old Dorji Phuntsok, a university graduate who returned to his hometown after completing his studies at Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College in 2025. Now working as the hot spring manager with a monthly salary of 6,000 yuan, he expressed his commitment: "Previously, cordyceps harvesting provided income for only a few months. Now the hot spring gives me year-round earnings, and I will dedicate myself to managing it well so our village's hot spring industry continues to thrive."

Despite these successes, challenges remain. Resident income still relies primarily on dividends, with limited on-site employment positions preventing most villagers from achieving stable year-round local employment. Zhang Jing, deputy team leader of the village work team, acknowledged this gap while outlining future plans. The village is exploring connections with the recently popular Gaduo Guocuo scenic spot for joint tourism promotion, while also seeking expansion funding to increase dining and accommodation capacity. Township authorities are actively advancing these initiatives to help all residents find work close to home.