Rebounds and Revival

Cultural tourism drives development in Yunnan By Li Xiaoyang

Many Chinese tourists flocked to Yunnan Province this summer to enjoy the cooler weather and slow-paced life. The streets and lanes of Yunnan’s cities and towns have come back to life as tourism rebounds with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data from the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism show that tourists paid 359 million visits to Yunnan in the first half of this year,around 89.8 percent of the corresponding period in 2019. The rebound was most notable during the summer peak travel season. Over 2.3 million tourists traveled to Yunnan’s Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture between July 1 and 10. To boost tourism, the provincial government issued 80 million yuan ($11.8 million)in consumption vouchers this July.

With the expansion of local tourism in recent decades, an increasing number of people in Yunnan have embraced modern and commercialized lives, operating inns, restaurants and other tourism-related facilities.They have also strived to retain and revive their cultural heritage, as it, along with the province’s natural environment and scenery, is a major drawcard for tourists.

Sustained in preservation

Hidden in the mountains, Donglianhua Village was once like a Shangri-la. Now it is a tourist attraction known for its ancient architecture. Its booming tourism industry has driven local economic growth. Many local people now run restaurants, souvenir stores and homestays, which have increased their incomes.

Increased heritage protection has breathed new life into the village’s ancient buildings. “Local people remain living in these ancient buildings and bring local cultural heritage back to life,” Liu Xishu, former head of the Weishan Cultural Heritage Bureau, told.

Donglianhua lies in Weishan County of Dali. The village was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)as home to members of the Hui ethnic group. Its well-preserved wooden-frame ancient buildings, constructed with delicate craftsmanship, bespeak its past prosperity.

By the time these buildings came to the attention of the heritage protection authority in the late 1990s, some had been damaged. A mansion had been turned into a kindergarten. Steel window frames and doors were installed on the ancient building,which looked quite out of place, Liu said.

Realizing the historical significance of the buildings, Liu and his colleagues called for better protection. Through the efforts of the villagers and the authorities, there are now 28 preserved ancient buildings in the village. In 2007, the National Cultural Heritage Administration recognized their work by incorporating Donglianhua into its cultural heritage list.

“The local government has been preserving the ancient buildings, restoring them to their previous appearances without over-renovation. It has also called on residents not to build modern-style houses, as the ancient buildings carry the memory of distinctive Hui traditional culture,” Zhong Xixiang, Secretary of the Yongjian Township Committee of the Communist Party of China, who administers Donglianhua, told.

Many well-preserved ancient buildings have also been put into public use.According to Liu, the building that currently houses the Nanzhao Museum was once the grandest in Weishan. The museum is a haven of cultural relics documenting the history of the Nanzhao Kingdom, which existed over 1,000 years ago.

Open to the public for free since 2015, the museum allows people to access their cultural and historical heritage.

Liu believes the preservation of ancient buildings is conducive to local development. “Preservation and development can go hand in hand. Proper preservation of ancient buildings will ensure the old city remains appealing to visitors. It is a virtuous cycle,” he said.

A Librairie Avant-Garde bookstore in Shaxi Town of Jianchuan County, Dali

An ancient courtyard in Donglianhua Village of Weishan County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecturein Yunnan Province,on August 4

Ethnic uniqueness

In addition to places of historical interest, Yunnan’s many ethnicities offer rich and diverse cultural experiences for tourists. Most members of the Bai ethnic group live in the province. A Bai folk song festival, which occurs every year, attracts tourists from around China and abroad, and has opened the door to a better life for the Bai people.

Jiang Wufa, in his 50s, began learning Bai folk songs and traditional instruments at the age of 11. According to Jiang, the songs feature improvised lyrics. He lives in Shilong Village of Jianchuan County, where there are around 30 inheritors of Bai intangible cultural heritage.

“In August or September every year, Bai people gather to hold a folk song festival for three days. This kind of performance has over 1,000 years of history,” Jiang told.

According to Jiang, many tourists interested in the Bai culture pay to watch the performances. The festival usually attracts over 10,000 visitors. The performers are farmers, who practice their skills and rehearse their performances after they finish their farm work.

Jiang has also promoted intangible cultural heritage in local schools, and taken on several mentees. “The Bai people did not develop written characters, so folk songs are key for preserving the Bai culture. I’m working on promoting the heritage among more young people,” Jiang said.

A cultural barn

For those seeking a poetic cultural journey in Yunnan, Librairie Avant-Garde, a bookstore in Shaxi Town, Jianchuan, is a must-visit destination. It is a branch of the eponymous store founded in 1996 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, which was chosen by CNN as one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. The branch in Shaxi was opened in May 2020. Rebuilt from an old barn, it has a full range of books about Yunnan and its local ethnic groups.

Liu Yating, manager of the bookstore, toldthe bookstore has built itself as a cultural landmark, where many cultural activities like lectures given by scholars and poets are often held. It also sells intangible cultural heritage crafts and coffee as supporting businesses.

The bookstore is in the mountains and many local people drive three-wheeled vehicles to carry tourists between the bookstore and other sites, for which they earn around 10,000 yuan ($1484.6) per month.They also operate homestays and restaurants near the bookstore.

Apart from being an attraction for tourists, the bookstore also improves the living environment for local people by providing a public cultural center for them. “Many parents from neighboring areas take their children to read here. They might have watched television or played on their phones in their spare time before, but now the bookstore provides them with a new way to spend their leisure time,” Liu said.

“We hope this bookstore can bring some longlasting changes. It will serve as a bridge between local children and the outside world,” she said. BR