Xiajiang Village in Zhejiang Province, Huangling Village in Jiangxi Province, Zhagana Village in Gansu Province, and Zhujiawan Village in Shaanxi Province are among several rural travel destinations in China that were added to the 2023 "Best Tourism Villages" list, a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) initiative that recognizes villages around the world committed to rural tourism development.
An aerial view of Xiajiang Village in east China's Zhejiang Province /CFP
Once known as an impoverished village, Xiajiang Village in Zhejiang Province has been adhering to an ecological-first, green development approach in recent years. It has formed an ecological industry cluster with rural tourism as its backbone and profitable large-scale agriculture to supplement its local economy. This has paved the way for a sustainable and replicable path to rural revitalization. Today, Xiajiang Village sits among clear waters surrounded by green mountains and features a well-organized mix of modern agricultural leisure parks and rural dwellings.
Huangling Village in Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province /CFP
Huangling Village is located in the northeast of Wuyuan County in Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It features classic Hui-style architecture, a prominent style of ancient Chinese architectural heritage predominantly found in the historical Huizhou prefecture of Anhui. This village boasts a history of nearly six centuries as a traditional Hui-style settlement.
Huangling is a typical mountain village with residential buildings arranged in a fan-shaped, terraced layout centered around a water source. It is surrounded by thousands of ancient trees and enveloped by vast terraced fields.
Zhagana Village in northwest China's Gansu Province /CFP
Zhagana Village in Gansu Province, situated at an elevation of between 3,000 and 3,300 meters, is surrounded by high peaks reaching an altitude of some 4,500 meters. "Zhagana" means "stone box" in Tibetan. Zhagana is a complete natural "stone city," with a terrain that resembles a grand palace and the appearance of a naturally-constructed ancient city sitting on rocky cliffs. The village sits nestled within the embrace of exquisite peaks, lush evergreen trees, and towering and seemingly indestructible city walls hemmed in by nature on three sides. The Tibetan village tucked into the mountainside features local plank houses arranged neatly in tiers, where prayer flags flutter in the wind.
Zhujiawan Village is located in the northwest of Zhashui County, Shaanxi Province, in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, 18 kilometers away from the county town. This quaint mountain village has been designated as one of the first "Most Beautiful Leisure Villages in China." Leveraging the advantages of the Niubeiliang Forest Park, the region has been meticulously planned to develop Zhujiawan into a nationally recognized as a beautiful natural "reception hall" for the Qinling Mountains.
The Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched in 2021 as part of the United Nations World Tourism Organization's mission to make tourism a driver of rural development and wellbeing.
