Seven villages in China including Shibadong village in Hunan province were recognized among the Best Tourism Villages in 2024 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization at its 122nd session of the Executive Council on Nov 15 Beijing time in Cartagena, Colombia.

 Shibadong village, located in Huayuan County, Xiangxi Prefecture, is an important part of the Wuling Mountain Area (Western Hunan) Tujia and Miao Cultural and Ecological Protection Zone. 

Shibadong village boasts beautiful natural scenery and profound culture, as well as intangible cultural heritage projects like Ganqiu Festival, a traditional Miao celebration of approaching autumn.

Shibadong village is the place where targeted poverty alleviation was first put forward. It’s also a window to observe the development of Chinese modern villages.

 Under the guidance of the targeted poverty alleviation policy, Shibadong Village relies on its unique original ecological resources to vigorously develop rural tourism, achieve sustainable utilization of natural resources, explore a path to help rural poverty alleviation through tourism that can be promoted, and form industrial systems of Miao embroidery, tourism, and characteristic planting.

In 2023, Shibadong village received 838,000 tourists and achieved a tourism revenue of 19.745 million yuan. Shibadong village has deeply developed cultural resources, renovated ancient Miao dwellings and ancient post roads, and added cultural experience forms such as Miao embroidery experience halls, agritainment, and Miao homestay inns. It has carried out many folk activities, such as Miao New Year and Jike Festival.

 Tourists and villagers respect each other and communicate equally, promoting harmonious coexistence and happiness sharing between people and nature. The integration of culture and tourism fosters new driving forces for rural development. Shibadong Village is showcasing a new vision of China's rural vitalization to the world, and contributing Chinese wisdom, solutions, and strength to global poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Chinese source: official WeChat account of Hunan Provincial Department of Cuture and Tourism