Nestled along the shores of Lake Tai in Suzhou's Wuzhong District, in east China's Jiangsu Province, Shanglin Village was once a classic example of a "hollow village." With young people migrating to cities, aging populations and crumbling infrastructure, its future seemed bleak. Yet, by 2025, Shanglin had become a national model for rural revitalization, attracting over 1 million annual visitors and boosting per capita income to 45,000 yuan ($6,390) – a 220 percent increase since 2015.

This transformation was fueled by a blend of community-driven initiatives, public-private partnerships and a visionary project named Lindu Warm Village. Here's how Shanglin reversed its fortunes.

The "Four Cooperatives" model: Mobilizing resources

Shanglin's success stems from an innovative system that mobilized underutilized resources through four specialized cooperatives: Land Share Cooperative which was established in 2006, it consolidated farmers' fragmented plots into a unified, scientifically managed agricultural base. This increased land dividend payouts from 600 yuan to 1,000 yuan per mu annually; Housing Cooperative, under which vacant homes were repurposed into boutique homestays and cultural spaces, generating average annual rents of 60,000 yuan per household; Labor Service Cooperative which provided employment for locals in tourism, maintenance and hospitality, creating over 400 jobs; Property Share Cooperative which pooled villagers' funds to build rental properties, ensuring steady dividends.

Lindu Warm Village: Where tradition meets innovation

In 2021, Shanglin Village, together with other southern villages located in the south of Suzhou, partnered with Tongcheng Travel Group to launch the 1-billion-yuan Lindu Warm Village project, spanning 14 square kilometers. The project blends agriculture, tourism and culture through eco-friendly tourism, cultural spaces and agritourism. Under this project, the popular pink-themed sightseeing train winding through forests and rapeseed flower fields attracts thousands of tourists. Villagers' houses were repurposed to pottery studios, bookstores and artisan workshops, farms like Xiaodao Ding offer parent-child activities, from rice harvesting to natural education programs. This Lindu Warm Village project avoided disruptive construction by adopting micro-renovations that preserved the village's traditional charm.

Empowering locals: Jobs, culture and pride

Shanglin Village prioritized involving residents in the revitalization process. Xu Tao, founder of Xintianli Bookstore, noted that after relocating from Fujian Province, he signed a 20-year lease because he "saw the project's long-term vision." The village also attracted returnees like Wang Junqing, a Suzhou native who established the Shijiu Tianyuan (poetry, wine and pastoral life) Cultural Hall. "We're not just selling agricultural products anymore," Wang said. "We're selling brands, and eventually, we'll be selling culture." 

Governance and cultural preservation

Central to Shanglin's success has been the integration of Party leadership with community action. The village implemented a grid-based management system, dividing the area into seven sectors each overseen by Party members. Cultural preservation has been equally important, instead of demolishing old structures, the village adopted micro-renovation techniques to repurpose traditional Jiangnan-style houses. Vacant homes were transformed into cafes, bookstores and cultural spaces like the Poetry and Wine Cultural Hall, which showcases local rice-wine brewing traditions dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The village also highlights its woodworking and rice-wine culture through workshops and exhibitions. And as a core rice-producing area, Shanglin integrates farming into tourism via seasonal festivals like the Rapeseed Flower Blossom Viewing in spring and Harvest Festival in autumn, allowing visitors to experience planting and brewing processes. 

Shanglin Village's journey from decline to prosperity demonstrates how integrated planning, cultural preservation and inclusive growth can breathe new life into rural areas.