Located in Jinlin Province in northeast China, Hongqi village is known as the 'first village at the foot of Changbai Mountain'. It is known for its pure Korean flavor because almost all families in the village are of Korean ethnicity. Liu Yan has more.

Located some 140 kilometers to the east of Yanji City, the administrative center of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, and 150 kilometers to the north of Changbai Mountain, Hongqi village is known as the 'first village at the foot of Changbai Mountain'. Changbai Mountain is the pride of Yanbian. A snapshot of the majestic mountain in winter would make a perfect Christmas card.

The village is marked on the travel map in Yanbian because of its purely Korean flavor. Most of the families there are Korean.

Li Zhuhao, from the village committee, came to the village when he was nine years old. Now he has been living there for more than 30 years.

"During the time when I came, people here still lived in thatched cottages. The village has only one dirt road which was covered by yellow mud when it rained or snowed. People always had to wear rain boots."

Several years later, after the country started to reform its economic system and open up, some people began to develop folk tourism in the village. The idea was supported by the local government and they allocated funds for their tourism projects. Li Zhuhao clearly remembers how it began.

"The tourism business started in 1985. After we received investment from the county government in 1989 and 2004, tourism business in the village developed at a rapid pace. The average income per person a year reached 5,000 yuan last year, 2,000 yuan more than before."

To tell a Korean house from the Han style houses there, you need only look at the roof. If the four tips tilt up, it's Korean. The most visible aspect of a Korean house in the village is that it is usually surrounded by trees and other plants. Li Zhuhao explains that tree planting became a major hobby for the villagers as they came into more disposable income.

"More than 20 different kinds of trees are planted in the village including cypress, willow, plane tree, locust tree and birch. Every household has a garden with fruit trees and flowers."

In the village plaza, tourists are riding on the swing. Meng Fanmei is an official from the town.

"Swing is a traditional sport of the Koreans. We hold a swing competition every year. The swing is 12 meters high and 3 or 4 meters wide. During the competition, the one who reaches the rope and beats the bell first will win. It's difficult and requires some skill."

Besides sports, Korean food is world famous. Visitors to the village have the opportunity to try genuine, traditional Korean home-cooking.

Korean food bears many trademarks, such as its spicy flavor, the kimchee or pickled vegetable, and bean paste soup.

Koreans also make rice cake during holidays and celebrations. To make the dish, they soak the rice in water, and then pound it with a huge wooden hammer. Li Zhuhao says pounding rice is something tourists love to try.

"Tourists are welcome to have a try to pound the rice. We show them how to do it and let them try. They are very excited and afterwards they usually buy a lot of rice cakes and take them home for relatives and friends."

In Korean tradition, rice cake is served on important occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays. It is also presented to distinguished guests.

There is a saying that a meal without bean paste soup is not a real meal for Korean people. And it is not a Korean party if there is no singing and dancing.

Korean folk song and dance is of distinguished character, just like their traditional clothes.

Jin Shunzi is a villager. This is her singing 'Jiegengyao', or 'Rice Ballad', a traditional Korean folk song.

Korean people are gifted singers and dancers and they love to sing and dance. They are not often depressed, because they are born happy and open-minded.