Young urbanites flock to villages as rural sojourns become increasingly popular

KUNMING — Amid the serene countryside of Southwest China's Yunnan province, 79-year-old Qi Zhengzhong has noticed a recent resurgence of youth and activity in his community.

In recent years, the influx of young people returning to their roots, along with an increase in urban visitors, has transformed the landscape of many neighborhoods in rural China. This promising shift is attributed in large part to the rising trend of urbanites seeking rural sojourns.

Qi's home, a refurbished traditional house now brimming with succulent plants, has become a garden. His grandson and granddaughter-in-law have opened a pastoral restaurant, serving locals and travelers from all over the country.

"I used to only speak in my dialect when I went out, but now I need to learn some Mandarin," said the elderly man.

Tuguachong village, less than 20 kilometers from the center of the city of Qujing, boasts a prime location. However, the convenience of moving to the city for work had led many young locals to range farther out, leaving over 120 old houses vacant and turning the village into a "hollow" one.

This year, Malong county introduced companies such as Yunnan Ruogu Cultural Tourism Development to revamp the village's empty housing. The government pooled funds to improve local public infrastructure, while the village collective rented and renovated the houses, and the companies took care of interior decoration and operation management.

Under such a cooperation pattern, the company has upgraded 77 old, vacant houses in Tuguachong — 37 for accommodation and 40 for business use. "We aimed to maintain the village's overall style, preserve their nostalgia, and enhance the convenience and comfort of living," said Zhong Peng, head of Yunnan Ruogu Cultural Tourism Development.

From the very early stages of the rural renovation project, they positioned the village, only 5 km from the county seat, as a leisure destination to attract long-term tourists looking for a countryside lifestyle.

Rural sojourns have become a trendy option among urban dwellers, integrating living, leisure, vacation and recuperation, while injecting new vitality into the countryside.

Tuguachong has seen old houses rejuvenated, while modern businesses such as bookstores, coffee shops and art spaces have been added. Since early summer, travelers from other provinces, including Hunan, Chongqing, Heilongjiang and Guangdong, have started renting homes in the village, some with leases of up to a decade.

"The tranquility away from big city hustle and bustle and the pastoral atmosphere are what I love most," said Zhou Dazheng, a traveler from Hunan who has opted to settle here for a while as a break from the city. She particularly enjoys cooking with a view of the rice fields and flowers just outside the kitchen.

Many young people who once left for work have returned to start businesses, injecting life into the once-quiet village, according to Zhang Zhengbing, head of the Tuguachong community.

In Zhonghe village in Yunnan, more than 1,000 new residents have arrived thanks to their migratory lifestyle, surpassing the original 600 villagers. Of the newcomers, more than 100 people are well-known artists from across China.

Since 2015, the village has integrated and revitalized idle old houses, preserving traditional styles while incorporating art and intangible cultural heritage elements. It has opened 56 courtyards to artists nationwide, gradually attracting thousands of travelers to "settle down".

Meanwhile, 35 inns, five catering businesses, five travel photography companies, one training school and one animation studio have been set up in Zhonghe, turning it into a renowned "art village", said Du Wu, head of the Zhonghe community.

With the deepening of rural vitalization, transportation, public facilities and supporting services in China's rural areas have significantly improved, meeting the needs of travelers for a quality and convenient lifestyle, said Meng Rui, a tourism expert from Kunming, Yunnan.

Xinhua