“Starting up a business in the hometown has perfect place, timing, and human resources. I just need to be diligent.” said Luo Haibin, the 35-year-old owner of an inn in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. 

After working outside and being burdened with financial problem, Luo finally opened his own Amdo Coffee House Inn in his hometown, which has become one of the most popular places in Songpan ancient town. 

Walking along the ancient city wall, you will find the Amdo Coffee House Inn. Under the moonlight, the scene of plateau ancient town shifts to a cozy yet featured room. The inn has been decorated in ethnic and western styles. The enchanting aroma of coffee pervaded over the room. 

People love to talk, play guitar, read or stare blankly there until the deep night. Then they would go back to their rooms on the second floor to have a sound sleep. 

 “I name the hotel after Amdo because Songpa is in Amdo Tibetan-inhabited area, where ethnic cultures integrate and exchange.” Luo said. 

Songpan used to be a frontier military stronghold as well as a commercial and trade hub for Han and other ethnic groups. Tibetan, Qiang, Hui, Han and other nationalities have lived and thrived there since ancient times. 

Luo’s family is an example of harmonious multi-ethnic coexistence. His father is Tibetan and his father is Hui. He has a special Han aunt, a Red Army soldier who used to join the Long March, who was wounded and stayed in Songpan and became part of Luo’s family. 

“Families like mine are rare in other places but common in Songpan.” said Luo. 

Luo went to college in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province to learn business administration. After graduation, he had tried many jobs and it turned out to be tough. He started entrepreneurship in 2011 in Zoige County. Due to the natural disaster in 2013, his first trial failed. 

Luo was quite frustrated and he went to ease up in Yunnan Province for a month. After he returned to his hometown, he was suddenly enlightened that the most suitable place for the entrepreneurship is his hometown. 

“Songpan has a history and culture of thousands of years, characterized by the featured customs integrated by ethnic groups. It is also the transfer station for Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic spots with highways, airports, and the upcoming high-speed rail.” Luo said. 

Act without delay. With his skill to make Italian coffee, Luo loaned about one million yuan to open the Amdo Coffee House Inn in 2014. This is not the first inn in Songpan but it is the first specialized cafe there. 

Luo said, “I want to integrate the western culture and local ethnic culture to attract tourists as well as provide local people a recreation place.” 

Luo put a lot of thought on the decoration. He wanted to do the mix-and-match while this was objected by some friends. They thought that might be terrible. 

Ultimately, Luo thought about the decoration while it was underway. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be brilliant. Many Internet users call it is the most attractive inn.  

The beautiful hardware was not enough for Luo. He endeavored to make people feel like at home. A foreign tourist once left a message, “Most of the staff there are able to speak English and it seems that they are always ready to help me.” 

Everything goes as Luo planned. “Diligence is enough.” He paid off all his debts in the first year and the inn remains profit-making. 

“I intend to spare the profits to open another inn. The name may be different but it will definitely be in Songpan.” Luo said.