At YSMR we believe in meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, we have implemented certain practices to help us achieve this core value. Below is a list of some of the initiatives that we use to help us achieve our aim. Inclusive in the price of the rooms and food is a 5% green tax that we use to help us with our various green initiatives.

Water
We have drilled our own well and set up a cistern to reduce the impact on the water resources in the area and we don't use sprinklers but water all our plants by hand.
All our gray water is contained in an open septic field which we built on construction of the hotel and is covered with water lilies and inhabited by snails and frogs.

Power
We have been supplementing our water boiler's coal briquettes with agriwaste (sawdust/shredded newspaper/straw) in an attempt to reduce our carbon footprint. To do this we have to make the briquettes ourselves which we do by means of a screwpress which we also built. Our goal is to completely replace coal by 2009.
We are also researching supplementary passive solar for hot water to reduce fuel consumption yet further.

Flora & Fauna
The Mountain Retreat family originates from the surrounding villages, bringingWhen we built the Mountain Retreat the land used was previously fallow rice terraces. We planted over 300 plants and trees including native bougainvillea, orange osmanthus trees, bananas, bamboo, birds of paradise, fig trees, pipa trees, pineapple palms and evergreens!
The introduction of the flora has encouraged local wildlife back into the area including fogs, snakes, (non poisonous!) bats, many different insects and birds. Around the hotel we have also put up bird houses which are inhabited each year.

Staff
All of our staff is from neighbouring villages except from our staff development coach and marketing consultant. We encourage our staff to interact with our guests and explain to them about the local culture and traditions.

We pay into a government social retirement fund which many private businesses here do not provide and we also have a health care fund to cover any medical expenses not covered by staff health insurance. Staff have comfortable dormitories on site and many eat 3 meals a day here. We offer two weeks annual leave after the first year with one additional day for every year that the staff serve.

Each year that we meet our financial goals, we take the team on a special learning holiday. 3 years ago we spent 4 days at the Marriott Sanya Resort on Hainan Island, with a tour each day of the hotel's operations. Last year we brought everyone to Lijiang Ancient Town in Yunnan Province which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stayed in a local guesthouse and toured the town's unique markets. This year (2008) in February we are bringing the team to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Here, they will visit handicrafts markets, boutique hotels, a spa and local attractions. This will be the first time that most of the team have ever left China. We believe that by exposing them to best practices in hospitality, promotion of local culture and sustainable tourism will inspire them to greater ownership in improving services and practices at the Retreat.

To read more about our staff you can go to the YSMR blog here

Culture
We invite cormorant fishermen, local song and dance troupes as well as local artists, chefs and Tai Qi instructors to perform and teach our guests. At the time of writing a local artist has set up an art gallery in one of our buildings to promote and sell his work.

We sell locally made products in our charity shop that include hand woven slippers, food and handicrafts. We also encourage our staff to sell their village produce through the shop. These include honey, chili paste and soap.

We also take guests on guided tours to explore local villages and towns introducing them to the local culture and encouraging them to spend their money in local communities.