Seven rural villages across the Chinese mainland have just earned global bragging rights, securing spots in the UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages list for 2024. 🌟 The recognition, announced in Cartagena, Colombia, boosts China’s total awardees to 15—making it the world leader in this sustainable-tourism honor!
From the misty rice terraces of Yunnan’s Azheke Village (a UNESCO World Heritage gem 🏞️) to the tea fields of Zhejiang’s Xitou Village, these spots are putting rural innovation on the map. Each location offers a fresh vibe: think homestays in traditional Hani houses, eco-trekking routes, and community-led projects that let tourists live local culture.
What’s their secret sauce? Take Azheke, where villagers pooled their terraced farms and ancestral homes to create a tourism model that’s both authentic and eco-friendly. Meanwhile, Hunan’s Shibadong Village transformed from a poverty-stricken area to a hot spot for agritourism—proving sustainability can drive real change. 📈
Launched in 2021, the UN initiative highlights villages that balance tourism growth with cultural preservation. With China’s latest wins, travelers now have even more reasons to swap city skylines for serene countryside horizons. 🧳✨
