China Rural Revitalization: Tourism enhances Lisu people's livelihood in Yunnan Province

The International Forum on Poverty Governance and Global Development wraps up today in southwest China's Yunnan Province. Since Friday, experts in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture have exchanged ideas on rural revitalization and development. Zheng Songwu visits a rural village where tourism has boosted the local economy and promoted livelihoods.

ZHENG SONGWU Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province "Hello there, I'm coming to visit your homestay, how about showing us around?"

Yue Shu, a local in Yangpo Village in Yunnan's Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, runs a homestay with nine rooms.

His village was lifted out of poverty in 2020, and in 2023, a village project integrating agriculture, local culture, and tourism began in the prefecture. That's when Yue Shu started his homestay career with the help of local officials.

YUE SHU Homestay Owner, Yangpo Village Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province "Life is getting better and better. I once worked in other cities, but now my new houses have been built for tourists to stay at. They visit our village and live in my homestay. I cook for them, and they love it so much."

Yangpo Village has a population of nearly 400. Since 2023, officials have invested over one million U.S. dollars to support villagers build homestays, parking areas, and a book store to develop local tourism.

Since September 2024, over 100,000 tourist trips have been made to the village. A team consisting of 14 representatives markets the village's tourism industry, hoping to attract more visitors. When visiting, travelers can enjoy natural landscapes, taste Lisu food, and read books.

QIAO DAHUA CEO of Yangpo Village, Yunnan Province "One must learn as much as he can. This is my biggest inspiration since I've been CEO. We once didn't know how to interact with so many tourists, so we were trained well later, like in coffee and tea making and how to be good waiters in our restaurants."

ZHENG SONGWU Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province "This is a good platform, or balcony, to overlook the view of the Nujiang River and the canyon. Since the rural revitalization began in China, the combination of agriculture, Lisu culture, and tourism has boosted the local economy and enhanced people's livelihoods. Zheng Songwu, CGTN, Nujiang, Yunnan Province."