8 “Best Tourism Villages” in China Listed by UNWTO
Together with Yu Village in Zhejiang Province and Xidi Village in Anhui Province, which were selected in 2021, Dazhai Village in Guangxi Province and Jingzhu Village in Chongqing, which were selected in 2022, the total number of China's "Best Tourism Villages" in the UNWTO list has reached eight, ranking the first in the world.
These eight beautiful villages in China have been renowned for their dedication to sustainability and innovation in all spheres of life, including the social, cultural, economic, and environmental ones. They also prioritize the growth of tourism in a way that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Best Tourism Villages” are definitely the best picks if you are planning China tours for outstanding rural destinations.
Huangling Village in Jiangxi Province
Location: Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province
Area: 15 square kilometers
History: 500+ years
Highlights:
Huangling is a typical mountain village, with its residential houses are arranged in a fan-shaped trapezoidal pattern around the water outlet.
Hundreds of houses handed down from the Ming and Qing dynasties are beautifully carved. Walking into the area is like stepping into a museum of Huizhou ancient architecture: horse head walls, stone, wood and brick carvings, study halls, wine shops, inns, ancient theatres, tea houses, calligraphy and painting halls, wood art halls and other kinds of shops.Whenever the sun rises over the hills, the whole mountain houses sun-baked racks of colourful harvest fruits. The locals sunbathe tea leaves in spring, mountain ferns in summer, fruits and vegetables in autumn, and country customs in winter.
The terraces in Huangling Village were named by netizens as "the world's top ten most beautiful terraces". In March, the rapeseed flower fields will be at their best.
Zagana Village in Gansu Province
Location: Yihua Township, Diabe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province
Area: 136 square kilometers
Altitude: 3000 - 3300 meters
Highlights:
"Zagana" is the Tibetan language, meaning "stone box". Zagana is a complete natural "stone city", commonly known as "Yama Temple". Its terrain is like a large-scale giant palace, but also like a natural rock wall constructed a complete ancient city. Each valley in the village has a different scenery: canyons, sea of clouds, forests and mountains.
With three major vegetation types: alpine grassland, temperate grassland and warm-temperate deciduous forest, the village of Zagana has been recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) as a globally important agricultural cultural heritage.More than 80 years ago, British explorer Joseph Rock once trekked here. This is why it is also known as Shambhala - Shangri-La in Gansu Province.
Xidi Village in Anhui Province
Location: Xidi Township, Yixian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
Area: 10.7 square kilometers
History: 900+ years
Highlights:
According to legend, the founder of Xidi was the son of Emperor Zhaozong in Tang Dynasty, who fled the royal court and changed his surname to Hu because of the chaos. Later, his children and grandchildren multiplied and formed a settlement village.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, some scholars abandoned Confucianism and became merchants. They were successful in business and built houses, shrines, roads and bridges.After hundreds of years of social turmoil and wind and rain, although more than half of the ancient houses, ancestral halls, academies and pagodas have been destroyed, hundreds of ancient houses are still preserved, preserving the basic appearance and characteristics of the Ming and Qing villages as a whole.
In 2000, together with Hongcun, Xidi was put on the list of World Cultural Heritage.
Dazhai Village in Guangxi Province
Location: Longji Township, Longsheng Autonomous County, Guilin, Guangxi, China
Area: 66 square kilometers
History: 500+ years
Highlights:
Dazhai Village is located in the core of Longji Terraced Fields Scenic Spot, between 800 metres and 1,100 metres above sea level, with a total area of 1,917 acres.
While developing tourism, Dazhai Village adheres to the fundamentals of agricultural production, strictly observing the production seasons of rice paddy ploughing and harvesting, and strengthening the protection of terraced fields. This model of sustainable development ensures a virtuous cycle of agricultural production and tourism development, guaranteeing food production and promoting rural tourism.
Dazhai Village possesses rich Hongyao culture, such as sun-baked red clothes, Hongyao long hair and Hongyao weaving techniques. These cultural traditions have been preserved and inherited in Dazhai Village, and at the same time combined with modern tourism elements to form tourism resources with special characteristics.
Recommend Guilin to Dazhai tours:
8-day Guilin Hiking Tour of Li River and Longji Rice Terraces
5-day Guilin Tour with Longji Rice Terraces Exploration
Xiajiang Village in Zhejiang Province
Location: Southwest of Chun'an County, south shore of Qiandao Lake
Area: 10.76 square kilometers
History: 800+ years
Highlights:
Xiajiang Village was built during the Jingkang period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1126-1127). The current population of the village is 231 households with 768 people. The forest coverage rate reaches 97 per cent. The income of the local residents mainly comes from tourism, tea, sericulture and Chinese herbs.
However, there are not too many vicissitudes of ancient dwellings like other ancient villages in Xiajiang Village. Almost all you can see are new-style buildings with white walls and tiles. But the village retains an ancient well and a quaint corridor bridge over the river.Xiajiang Village is an ideal excursion for a Hangzhou tour, as it is only 2 hours’ drive from Hangzhou.
Nearby attractions:
Jingzhu Village in Chongqing
Jingzhu Village belongs to a subalpine type hilly area with an altitude of between 800 meters and 1,300 meters and a forest cover of 75%. The pleasant alpine climate makes it an ideal choice for summer holidays.
The village is surrounded by a unique karst landscape with multiple types of natural resources such as forests, alpine meadows, cliff landscapes, sinkholes and canyons. The rare karst natural landscape has made this place the setting for the film "Transformers 4" and "Curse of the Golden Flower".
Nearby attractions:
Zhujiawan Village in Shaanxi Province
Location: Yingpan Township, Zhashui County, Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province, China
Highlights: Qinling old houses, ancient road relics, Zhashui fishermen's drums, ancient customs, ancient wine-making and other cultural heritages
Zhujiawan Village is one of the first villages in China to be selected as one of the "Most Beautiful Leisure Villages in China" by taking advantage of the scenic spots of Niubieliang Forest Park. The village is rich in natural ecological resources, with dense primary forests, tranquil pools and waterfalls, and unique canyon scenery.Zhujiawan Village is one of the important sites of the Zhongnan Mountain, with rich historical and cultural heritage. The relics and cultural heritage of ancient buildings, ancient roads and ancient fortresses here all offer visitors the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of local history and culture.
Yu Village in Zhejiang Province
Location: Tianhuangping Town, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, ChinaArea: 10.7 square kilometers
Area: 4.86 square kilometers
Yucun is where the Bamboo Sea Scenic Spot in Tianhuangping Scenic Area located. The village area is orientated east-west, surrounded by mountains, with a continuous flow of bamboo and a vegetation coverage rate of 96%.
