Hangzhou's Xiajiang village is included in UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages list
By Jin Yingying
It is a significant milestone for Hangzhou's Xiajiang village that it is announced during the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly held in Samarkand Uzbekistan on Oct 19 that the village has secured a spot on the prestigious list of the "Best Tourism Villages 2023".
Out of a pool of 258 candidate villages hailing from 63 countries, a total of 54 villages from 32 nations were elected. Among them, Xiajiang village stood as one of the four from China, along with which were Huangling village in Jiangxi province, Zhagana village in Gansu province, and Zhujiawan willage in Shanxi province.
This accolade adds to China's growing list of entries into the UNWTO "Best Tourism Villages". China now boasts a total of eight villages securing this international recognition, firmly establishing itself at the pinnacle of the global rural tourism.
Xiajiang village's success is rooted in its unwavering commitment to ecological conservation and innovative approaches to unlocking dormant assets. This strategy has paved the way for a sustainable development of rural tourism.
By leveraging its natural resources and cultural heritage, the village has expedited the digitization of its rural landscape. This endeavor has created distinct tourism routes and premium cultural programs. Furthermore, Xiajiang village has hosted an array of celebratory events, including camping, sorghum harvesting, and sweet potato drying fun. Traditional agriculture heritage is modernized with digital technology.
In 2022, Xiajiang village saw an impressive 409,500 visitors throughout the year, including 54,800 guests staying overnight, generating a tourism revenue of 65.65 million yuan. Additionally, a total of 884 training sessions and main classes were conducted, with an aggregate participation tally exceeding 44,000 yuan.