Cultural tourism revitalizes once impoverished village in China's Guizhou

An aerial drone photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows tourists enjoying a performance in Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

As one of China's largest villages primarily inhabited by Dong ethnic residents, Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County was once economically underdeveloped due to poor transportation and lack of industrial diversity.

Local residents welcome guests in Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 23, 2026.

In recent years, the village has leveraged its unique ethnic culture and ecological resources to develop cultural tourism, featuring Dong Grand Song performances, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and local homestays and cuisine.

Tourists try indigo dyeing, an intangible cultural heritage, in Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 20, 2026.

In 2025, the village received over 1.51 million tourists, generating a comprehensive tourism revenue exceeding 1.5 billion yuan (about 220.05 million U.S. dollars), with a collective village income exceeding three million yuan (about 440.10 thousand U.S. dollars). 

A foreign tourist visits Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 19, 2026.

（Xinhua）