Excitement builds as village soccer league returns to rural Guizhou

GUIYANG — With the warm winter sun at their backs, residents of Dali village in Guizhou province are busy preparing for the influx of tourists during the Village Super League soccer tournament.

Nestled among mountains and lush greenery, Dali is a traditional village with centuries of history. Over 1,300 villagers of the Dong ethnic group live in well-preserved wooden houses on stilts, continuing the traditions of embroidery and singing Dong folk songs.

Visitors come from around the world. Activities such as weaving, embroidering and catching fish in rice fields offer tourists a vibrant array of experiences. In 2023, the Guizhou Village Super League, affectionately known as Cun Chao, became a sensation, catapulting the small mountainous county of Rongjiang into the spotlight.

The event attracted over 9 million tourists last year, generating tourism revenue of more than 10.4 billion yuan ($1.4 billion).

Last year, Dali village received nearly 100,000 tourists, while the number of homestays in the village increased from 18 in 2022 to 46 last year — with 90 percent run by locals.

Yang Bo, a villager who once worked at a hydropower station, left his high-paying job to transform his home into a homestay. He said the Village Super League resulted in a surge of tourists, which allowed him to earn nearly 200,000 yuan last year.

"I love my hometown, and I believe the homestay industry has immense potential," Yang said, adding that he hopes his efforts will attract more tourists to enjoy the village's natural beauty and cultural richness.

This year, the village has organized a team to participate in the third season of the Village Super League, which began on Jan 4. Yang, now assistant coach of the village's soccer team, said their participation is not just for entertainment but also to strengthen community bonds and village cohesion.

Beyond the soccer matches, the Village Super League features a wealth of ethnic cultural performances.

Baibei village in Guizhou has been participating for three years. In 2023, the village organized a cheerleading team, whose members debuted on the soccer field in festive costumes and showcased intangible cultural heritage, making the village an internet sensation.

The village has released a series of promotional videos. It has also organized local artisans to create handicrafts and soccer-related products for sale online. Since June 2023, sales of these products have generated revenue exceeding 800,000 yuan.

Driven by love for their hometowns and encouraged by improved economic opportunities, more young people are choosing to return home to start businesses.

Tan Youyun from Setong village, who used to run a company selling ultrasonic equipment in Zhejiang province, saw the popularity of the Village Super League as an important business opportunity in her hometown.

Confident in the charm of the local natural landscape and the Miao ethnic culture, she decided to rent a house there and turn it into a homestay.

"I'll use videos and online streaming to promote local agricultural and cultural products. I hope to attract more tourists to experience the village's charm," Tan said.

Xinhua