Tourism transforms Dong village

"We must protect and pass on the Dong ethnic traditional culture and fulfill our responsibilities as inheritors, and showcase the charm of our ethnic culture," Lu said.

Visitors to Zhaoxing can watch the grand song of the Dong people, accompanied by traditional ethnic instruments, every evening in the village's open-air theater. Nearly 100,000 people watch the performance annually.

In recent years, the village has also developed industries closely related to tourism, such as the oil tea industry.

Xianghe sticky rice is a traditional crop of Zhaoxing that embodies the village's time-honored farming culture, with an annual output of about 500 metric tons.

During peak tourist season, specialty foods made from Xianghe sticky rice account for about 30 percent of local agricultural product sales, making it a shining brand of Dong ethnic agricultural specialties.

Zhaoxing has established a company that involves the whole industrial chain of producing, processing and selling agricultural products.

Wu Debang, head of the company, is a college graduate who chose to return from Shenzhen in Guangdong province to his hometown and start a business. "By making use of Zhaoxing's tourism industry, we have cooperated with local farmers and 15 agricultural cooperatives nearby to provide local agricultural products sold to the scenic area, which also enhances the culinary experience for tourists," Wu said.

Last year, the company's sales volume of agricultural products exceeded 4.3 million yuan.

Wu believes that "the vitalization of our hometown relies on every resident's effort in leveraging our own advantages, and using our skills and resources to achieve industrial vitalization".

"This allows everyone to stay with their family members and earn money without leaving the village for work. I believe that as we expand our production capacity and scale this year, the income of the farmers will be further increased," he said.

Wu said the company aims to exceed 10 million yuan in sales this year by increasing the added value of products and enhancing market competitiveness.

According to Tang, the village plans to enhance its infrastructure, add visitor-friendly facilities, and strengthen the protection and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Efforts will also be made to develop cultural and creative industries, and introduce folk festivals and events to provide visitors with a better travel experience, he said.

"Through such efforts, we expect to attract more than 2 million tourist visits this year," Tang said, adding that Zhaoxing will also strive to establish itself into a national 5A-level scenic area or a national-level tourist resort.

Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn