Four more Chinese villages were listed in the U.N. Tourism's 2025 edition of "Best Tourism Villages," according to announcements made at a U.N. Tourism awards ceremony held in Huzhou City of east China's Zhejiang Province on Friday.
The four listed villages are Huanggang in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province; Jikayi in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province; Dongluo, which is administered by Taizhou City in east China's Jiangsu Province; and Digang, which is administered by Huzhou City in Zhejiang Province.
With the addition of the four villages, China now boasts a total of 19 "Best Tourism Villages" as recognized by U.N. Tourism, with 15 other Chinese villages listed over previous years.
Reaching from the mountains to the sea, the four awarded villages showcase China's diverse landscape, cultural identity and path of development.
"China's results in terms of 'Best tourism Villages' are a reflection of the commitment that many years ago has been done to use tourism as a vehicle for shared prosperity, fighting poverty and bringing rural communities new opportunities. And that has been a decision that has been done all around the country and that is every-day giving results," said Sandra Carvao, director of Market Intelligence, Policies and Competitiveness at U.N. Tourism.
Digang is located in the Yangtze River Delta zone. It is home to the globally renowned mulberry-dyke and fish-pond system, a thriving eco-agricultural model with over 322 species, including indigenous mulberries and silkworms.
For over two decades, local women have led the protection and promotion of the mulberry-dyke and fish-pond system, playing a crucial role in its recognition as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
In recent years, Digang has leveraged its well-protected ancient heritage and eco-cultural resources to improve its tourism development. The expanding tourism industry has significantly improved locals' livelihoods.
"Our Digang Village has been receiving an increasing number of tourists. After witnessing the trend, I returned to the village two years ago to open a B and B. Our occupancy rate often exceeds 70 percent and during holidays rooms are even fully booked. My income has tripled from then on," said B and B owner Zhang Peili.
According to a Ministry of Culture and Tourism official in charge of application work for the award, the selection of the four villages reflects the comprehensive, diversified development of China's rural tourism sector.
"China is big, territory wise and population wise. The 19 villages mentioned show the diversity of villages in China. All of them are different. All of them have different kinds of culture, traditions, cuisine, and that's why it's really nice showcase for everyone, for any other countries or any other regions to develop regional development," said Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of U.N. Tourism.
Four more Chinese villages listed among U.N. Tourism's 2025 "Best Tourism Villages"
