For people living in or traveling to time-honored Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, there is a forest oxygen bar that is only one hour drive away: Zhujiawan Village, named Best Tourism Village for 2023 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 

Nestled in the hinterlands of the southern foothills of Qinling Mountains, Zhujiawan Village covers a sprawling area of 126 square kilometers and boasts an abundance of over 1,200 species of diverse animals and plant resources. 

The village lies right at the core of the Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve, which has a remarkable forest coverage rate of 93 percent. Autumn is the best season to visit the enchanting spot as the mountain gets a vibrant glow of red, yellow and green. If you are lucky, you might see a stunning sea of clouds on the mountain top.

Thanks to years of protection, the number of takins in the reserve has increased from 78 in 1980 to about 350 now. In recent years, Zhujiawan Village has also harnessed its ecological strengths to cultivate a flourishing tourism sector. 

The village has established 216 rural home-stays and 46 guesthouses, providing employment opportunities for 80 percent of the local workforce, and benefiting more than 10,000 people in the local and surrounding villages. In 2022, Zhujiawan Village achieved a per capita income of 26,650 yuan ($3,696), ranking top in Zhashui County. 

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Next Stop: An ancient village with hanging drying ground

Next Stop: Lucid waters and lush mountains lift this village out of poverty

Next Stop: The stone box that sits on ancient glacial relics

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Liu Shaozhen)