A village housing project used as hotels

Determination has been shown through a growing wave of projects initiated by local municipal governments across China, thanks to the central government’s poverty alleviation agenda. The Chinese government has announced plans to raise the remaining 40 million people out of poverty by 2020.

China has witnessed a successful poverty alleviation strategy so far, removing over 700 million people from poverty in the last 40 years. Plans are also in place to ensure that over 300 million Chinese are millionaires in the coming few years.

Villagers in Haiping, of Shuicheng County, Liupanshui city have used local tourism to make more money. Locals quickly became involved with a housing construction project funded by the government to explore development through tourism.

With an investment of RMB 263 million from the government, locals have blended traditional and western materials for the projects and also have integrated a traditional Yi style, taking design characteristics from the Yi minority such as earth walls, thatched grass and modern Yi architecture.

The project also seeks to resettle an additional one thousand poor households from other towns and villages. They are expected to benefit from a range of deals which include settlement around relocation and property rights, as well as shares in the company operating the project.

Wang Chao

Wang Chao, an official from the Standing Committee of the Propaganda Department of the CPC, spoke to journalists during their 2018 Media Tour in Liupanshui Municipality, Guizhou Province.

He revealed that the locals were farmers who sold fruit and vegetables prior to the start of the tourism development project. He added that the project provided jobs for locals in Shuicheng County through the construction of housing.

With the tourism project, locals’ income will increase and their shares in the company will also increase, Mr. Wang said. He noted that most tourists visit the wild Jade Scenic area during summer and winter.

However, he added that tourists also visit the scenic area during the ‘Fire Festival’ and huge income is generated from their stay which lasts around three or four days.