Ethnic Yao village in Yunnan turns rich wildlife into adventure kingdom for tourists

China

Ethnic Yao village in Yunnan turns rich wildlife into adventure kingdom for tourists

2024-12-04 17:39 Last Updated At：23:17

A young man from Hebian, an ethnic Yao village in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has combined cultural heritage with professional expertise to turn the region's rich wildlife into a unique adventure kingdom for tourists.

China's tropical rainforests span over 700,000 hectares, with nearly 60 percent in Yunnan Province.

"My name is Pan Yongfei, and I am currently the room manager at Rainforest Yao Cooperative. I am mainly responsible for logistics support. When guests arrive, there will be some activities, and I am also primarily responsible for guiding the rainforest trekking tours," said the young man.

According to Pan, the new wave of eco-tourism is transforming the lives of local people. Young residents are stepping up as tour guides, bridging their traditional knowledge with modern eco-tourism practices.

"We've been exploring the mountains since childhood. Now tourists are coming, so those young among us and those who speak Mandarin will look after them after training. By learning those professional knowledge, we can explain some basic plants, trees, and fruits to tourists. This is an amomum villosum plant, used in traditional Chinese medicine. A flower is blooming here at the bottom, a white flower. But these days, it's not allowed to be cultivated in the rainforest," he said.

As eco-tourism continues to flourish in Yunnan's tropical rainforests, individuals like Pan exemplify how blending cultural heritage with environmental stewardship can create sustainable opportunities for local communities. By sharing their knowledge and passion for the land, these young guides are not only preserving their traditions but also fostering a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of nature among visitors from around the world.

Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.

In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.

Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.

The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.

Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.

Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.

He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.

He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.