Four villages honored by UN Tourism

China's rural tourism promotion efforts have drawn international recognition for preserving cultural traditions, promoting sustainable development and boosting local economies, local governments said.

Four Chinese villages were named Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations World Tourism Organization at an award ceremony held on Friday in Huzhou, Zhejiang province.

The honored villages are Huanggang in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture of Guizhou province; Jikayi in Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province; Dongluo in Taizhou, Jiangsu province; and Digang in Huzhou.

Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages initiative honors rural destinations around the world that are leaders in preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions. So far, 236 villages in 57 countries have been recognized by UN Tourism.

With the latest additions, China now has 19 villages on the global list.

"The 19 Best Tourism Villages that China has show the readiness and diversity of Chinese villages as destinations," UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said. "All of them have unique cultures and traditions."

Huanggang village is known for its rich Dong cultural heritage, featuring five ancient drum towers and traditional wooden architecture that seamlessly integrates into village life, Guizhou Daily reported on Saturday.

The village is also famous for the Dong ethnic group's Grand Song, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that villagers continue to perform, the publication said.

The Sichuan provincial culture and tourism bureau said on its WeChat account on Saturday that Jikayi's Gyalrong Tibetan-style homes sit among snow-capped peaks, forests and grasslands, creating a serene setting. At an average altitude of 2,300 meters, the mountainous terrain supports a distinctive highland agricultural civilization.

Danba county is renowned for its Gyalrong Tibetan embroidery, celebrated for its intricate designs and vibrant colors. The Danba Guozhuang, a traditional folk dance dating back to the Sui Dynasty (581-618), mimics animal movements such as rabbits and peacocks, combining vigorous and graceful steps.

The Huzhou government said on its official WeChat that Digang's standout feature is its 67 hectares of mulberry fish ponds. In 2017, the system was included on the list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization.

Dating back more than 2,500 years, the system remains vibrant today. Mulberry trees grow on pond dykes and their leaves feed silkworms; silkworm waste feeds fish, whose waste fertilizes the ponds; and pond mud nourishes the mulberry trees. The cycle embodies the ancient wisdom of living in harmony with nature.

According to a Huzhou news media center report, Hu Wei, vice-governor of Zhejiang, said the award not only celebrates outstanding villages but also explores sustainable development paths for rural areas worldwide. By actively promoting rural tourism in Zhejiang, he said, the province aims to turn the goal of rural vitalization into a "beautiful reality".

Pololikashvili said that the main goal of the Best Tourism Villages initiative is poverty alleviation.

"About 80 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas," he said. "By recognizing villages as tourist destinations, this program creates job opportunities and helps families in rural communities increase income."

He added that the title is not only recognition for the winning villages but also motivation for local governments to support their growth by upgrading infrastructure.

For example, in Huanggang, traditional granaries have been transformed into modern guesthouses. The seven homestays, offering a total of 38 rooms, give visitors an immersive experience of Dong culture while providing dining services. The project has boosted local incomes, generating 1.24 million yuan ($174,000) in revenue in 2024, according to Guizhou Daily.

UN Tourism also provides follow-up education to empower the awarded communities and has created the Best Tourism Village network to promote peer learning and exchange, Pololikashvili said.

Yang Jun, Chen Ye, and Zhao Junfeng contributed to this story.