The crown jewel of Yunnan
Villagers leverage the natural, beginner-friendly mountain environment to boost tourism and incomes, Yang Feiyue and Li Yingqing report.
A golden ticket
Recognizing the region's untapped potential, local authorities have strategically positioned Haba Snow Mountain as a crown jewel along western Yunnan's grand tourist loop. The transformation began in 2003 when Diqing prefecture hosted a huge mountaineering festival in Haba village.
Over the ensuing two decades, the village blossomed into a model of sustainable mountain tourism. The community masterfully leveraged its unique geographical gifts, creating an irresistible draw for global trekking enthusiasts.
Haba village now offers integrated adventure tourism services, including tailored mountain experiences with certified local guides, authentic cultural immersion through Yi ethnic homestays, seamless logistics including gear transport, and gastronomic journeys featuring local ingredients, says Wang Yonghua, a village official.
Local authorities significantly improved infrastructure by funding road construction and expansion, enhancing traffic flow, and reducing accidents while upgrading muddy horse trails to safer paths for the villagers and tourists, Wang adds.
Additionally, power grid modernization stabilizes electricity supply during harsh weather, replacing frequent outages, and clean tap water is in good supply.
Comprehensive telecom coverage and a household subsidy for toilet upgrades also contributed to the overall improvement of public utilities and living standards.
