Film inspires tours to "last primitive tribe in China"

Convenient transportation including high-speed rail and a panda-themed movie starring Jackie Chan have further improved tourism for Wengding Village in southwest China's Yunnan Province, known as "the last primitive tribe in China".

In recent years, Wengding Village in Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City has been bettering its tourism sector through facilities upgrades, which helped tourists reach the village more easily to immerse themselves in the traditional architectural and living styles of the Wa ethnic group, and experience the intangible cultural heritage of wooden-drum rituals.

The effects of local efforts have been further boosted by the movie "Panda Plan 2: The Magical Tribe", a sequel starring Jackie Chan released during China's 2026 Spring Festival holiday in February, as Wengding Village was a key filming location for the movie.

The driving effect of high-speed rail on secluded destinations like Cangyuan and Wengding has been significant. With the film drawing internet traffic, and railway providing real traffic, and ethnic culture forming the essence, more people have got to know Yunnan and enjoy touring Lincang said Lei Junhu, a train conductor.

Across the village, visitors can take part in a range of intangible cultural heritage experiences, engaging with traditions that have been passed down for generations.

"I think the wood-drum dance and hair-flicking dance impressed me most. Their energetic, powerful performances and warm smiles really touched me. So I think I can tell my family and friends about the friendly Wa people and their wonderful shows in Wengding ancient village," said Sergey Shipiguzov, an international student with Yunnan University.

In the lead-up to the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, boosted by the film's popularity, visitor number surged year on year in Wengding Village. Travelers from Southeast Asia accounted for more than 40 percent of arrivals.

"After the 'Panda Plan 2' was released, the visitor number at Wengding scenic area increased noticeably. Based on our data, we have seen about a 15-percent rise compared with the same periods in previous years. Daily foot traffic is now relatively stable at around 700 visitors," said Chen Shengdong, manager of the Wengding Scenic Area.

Film inspires tours to "last primitive tribe in China"

The 139th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has seen more than 300 new product launch events by Sunday, the last day of the first phase of the event.

The fair, which opened Wednesday in Guangzhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, set new records for exhibition area, the number of booths, and the number of participating companies.

Focusing on "Advanced Manufacturing," the first phase of the fair attracted over 5,900 high-tech exhibitors, companies that apply specialized, sophisticated techniques to produce unique, novel products.

The second phase of the fair will run from April 23 to 27 under the theme "Quality Home Life," showcasing the latest developments in green building materials, smart housewares, and creative living solutions.

The Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. Established in 1957, it is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.

First phase of 139th Canton Fair features over 300 new product launch events