To be fair, most residents in Nyingchi city in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region live above the poverty line, some are even fairly well-off, thanks to the rich natural resources, such as glossy ganoderma, which comes from this area. The Nyingchi government is leading the way on poverty reduction and now the authorities are trying to create a better life for all the residents by making full use of the region's geological and ecological advances.

Lulang town in Nyingchi is called the Switzerland of China as it’s surrounded by a picturesque forest, magnificent snow mountains and charming buildings. To protect the wonderful trees, the local government spends about 200 million yuan (30 million US dollars) a year on forest rangers. These rangers could take home an extra 1500 yuan (226 dollars) as part of their annual income.

Lulang International Tourism Town, which is full of buildings influenced by Tibetan culture, was launched in March 2017. Local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and bars created more than 2500 jobs, and these opportunities benefit not only the local residents, but also poor households in neighboring counties.

What’s more, high end brands like Evergrande bring their leading hotel management knowledge to local boutique hotels, including bed & breakfasts operated by residents. These B&Bs, learn advanced hotel management skills and hire extra help from poor households to collect used sheets and deliver clean ones, creating a comfortable environment for visitors and boosting the income for poor households.

Local officials say that Lulang International Tourism Town provides an example for poverty alleviation through tourism in China, and it also promotes economic development and social stability in the area.