Yunnan’s remote areas are getting a new look thanks to development and tourism.
Tiger Beach Scenic Area
After a few summer rains, the Tiger Beach tourist spot is bathed in beautiful purple and red hues. Visitors linger to take photos and enjoy Lisu cuisine. Located in Yunnan’s Nujiang Prefecture, the spot, once a barren hillside, has been transformed into a social media hotspot thanks to more than a year of construction and renovation by local authorities. Chenggan County Chief He Jisheng said the massive influx of tourists is evidence of the area’s growing agriculture and tourism economy.
New concept
Nujiang, which is becoming an outdoor paradise, attracts many visitors seeking the mystery along the Nujiang River. Hu Shuangwang, the operations manager of Tiger Beach, is a local who chose to return home after working in the city. Thanks to the establishment of the scenic spot, his parents and the villagers also enjoy a stable income. “Our scenic spot, located near the Tiger Leaping Canyon, provides an ideal setting for rest and dining,” he added.
The site offers a variety of activities, including dining, accommodation, cultural experiences related to river crossings and ecological corridors along the waterway. It attracts not only many local tourists, but also visitors from all over the country who come to admire the scenery. Like Hu Qi from Beijing, who discovered the place through social media and brought his entire family there to enjoy the scenery and local specialties for two weeks.
He Jisheng is optimistic about the future development of the scenic spot. “In the next step, we will continue to strengthen the development of the area, so that resources can be transformed into capital, and capital into funds,” he said. He said the per capita income of the township reached more than 8,000 yuan last year, and he hopes for another breakthrough this year.
Like Hu Shuangwang, He Jisheng is also a local resident and has experienced the whole process of scenic spot construction. “Initially, it was necessary to occupy part of the villagers’ land, but despite the compensation provided, some of them were closed to the idea,” he explains. Later, he encouraged some villagers to set an example and actively support the construction of scenic spots. Gradually, those who were against the changes saw the income of those who took part in the project increase thanks to the influx of tourists, and eventually joined the cooperative, abandoning the traditional idea of ”living in the mountains”. Now, the environment has become a valuable resource for sustainably increasing income.
During major festivals, the site holds bonfires and folk performances to provide tourists with a better travel experience. “We should provide tourists with exceptional experiences, so that they can feel the beauty of Nujiang and remember our rich regional characteristics. Naturally, more tourists will be attracted,” He Jisheng said.
The Dulong canvas internationally
Dulongjiang Township in the Gaoligong Mountains is home to the Dulong ethnic group. The group emerged from poverty at the end of 2018, and rural revitalization continues to lead them toward common prosperity.
In Dizhengdang Village on the banks of the Dulong River, 75-year-old Li Wenshi, nicknamed the “tattooed woman,” skillfully weaves a Dulong cloth in her small courtyard while singing. When tourists come to buy the cloth, they can pay directly with WeChat. Dulong cloth, hand-woven by Dulong women with colored threads, often linen, is usually used to make clothing or household linens. The women are nicknamed “rainbow weavers.”
In recent years, a fruitful alliance between Shanghai and Yunnan has allowed Dulong canvases, a symbol of regional craftsmanship, to emerge from the shadow of the mountains to conquer the world. This success is the fruit of a collaboration with a Shanghai design company.
Under the guidance of the Shanghai and Yunnan Women’s Federations, the Dulong women have collaborated with a design company to create more than 30 unique products, ranging from leather bags to dolls. These creations have crossed borders to North America, where they have found great success.
Well-known companies such as Nutella and Starbucks have even placed bulk orders with the women, helping to create local jobs and increasing their monthly income by nearly 1,000 yuan.
To optimize the weaving efficiency, the professional design team in Shanghai redesigned the yarn placement technique, reducing the weaving time by nearly half. The annual output has increased from about 60 pieces of cloth to 300 today.
Each woman can now earn an additional 6,000 to 7,000 yuan per year, which has greatly motivated the Dulong women to increase their income and become wealthy in their own area.
Dulong fabrics provide a living for local weavers.
The development of Laomudeng
Perched in the heart of the Biluo Snow Mountains, halfway up the mountainside, Laomudeng Village is often called the “village in the clouds.” Its stunning natural scenery and unique ethnic customs attract a large number of tourists. Yu Wulin, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and a proud resident of Laomudeng, regularly shares photos of this enchanting place with his friends on WeChat, joking that it is effective advertising that costs nothing.
This village is a hidden gem that has attracted tourists with its unique charm. Yu Wulin, one of the first villagers to benefit from the tourism boom, has played a key role in transforming the local economy. Thanks to his initiative, many farmers have been able to rely on the development of tourism to escape poverty and improve their living standards.
However, despite its undeniable tourist appeal, Laomudeng has faced challenges. The constant influx of visitors has made getting around, parking, and even staying in the village difficult. But despite these obstacles, the resilient spirit and warm hospitality of the people of Laomudeng continue to make the village a must-visit place.
Laomudeng is home to 383 households and 1,258 residents. With nearly 50 inns and restaurants scattered throughout the small village, half of the villagers work in the tourism industry, welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year. During the Spring Festival, the village’s guesthouses are full, and parking becomes a major challenge due to the narrow roads.
To solve these problems, in April 2021, Shanghai Pudong New Area accelerated the renovation of a 21km rural tourism road and built an 18,000m2 visitor transfer center, greatly improving accessibility and tourist experience.
Through these efforts, Laomudeng has successfully established a national 4A-level scenic spot. A professional alpine tea cooperative has also been established, with an annual tea output of 4.6 million yuan. Yu Wulin points out that the development of rural tourism allows locals to prosper while staying in their hometown.
