A new lease on history

Fresh local energy

Bafang's transformation is part of the wider changes taking place across Linxia, where a younger generation is bringing fresh ideas to the prefecture.

Ma Suofeiya, a member of the Dongxiang ethnic group, opened Lumos Cafe in Linxia city in 2015, hoping to pursue her interest in coffee while contributing to the development of her hometown.

She identifies with a local saying: "Build your hometown into a place you love."

"I thought my hometown needed a cafe like this," she says.

For Ma Suofeiya, Bafang Shisanxiang is woven into her childhood memories. She describes Linxia as a small but warm place, where young people can pursue their own ideas and careers.

That connection is also reflected in her menu. Alongside coffee, the cafe serves halal food and incorporates local ingredients and flavors, including pickled vegetables and tianpeizi, a sweet fermented grain dish.

"I don't just want to sell coffee," she says. "I want to combine it with what people here actually need."

Her social media accounts introduce coffee, entrepreneurship and everyday life in Linxia, helping the small cafe reach customers far beyond the city.

Among its regular customers is Kenny Farooq, a foreign resident and e-commerce entrepreneur based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Married to a woman from Linxia, he regularly travels between the two cities. His business has also taken him to many other parts of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Harbin.

Yet he keeps returning to Linxia. The cafe is one of his regular stops, where he can work on his laptop and enjoy a cup of coffee.

"I've been to so many places, but Linxia is like a magnet, pulling me back here," he says, citing his family, the local scenery and the cafe among the reasons.

He also praised the city's food, cultural traditions and friendly residents.

"I hope to introduce Linxia to more people, including by developing a website featuring local attractions and landmarks," he says.

Tradition comes alive

At the Bafang Folk Museum, a three-courtyard residence dating back to 1926 offers visitors a glimpse into the area's cultural heritage.

According to Cui Zhiyu, manager of Linxia Bafang Shisanxiang Scenic Area Management, the courtyard brings together Han wood carving, Tibetan painted decoration and Hui brick carving. Exhibits featuring old household objects, photographs and audiovisual materials re-create local weddings, festivals and everyday life in Hezhou.

Across the neighborhood, more than 60 forms of intangible cultural heritage are showcased, alongside folk performances and immersive cultural programs that bring traditional practices to life for visitors.

The cultural appeal has also helped attract tourists. Since its renovation, Bafang Shisanxiang has received more than 20 million visits. In the first seven months of 2026 alone, it welcomed nearly 2.95 million visitors and generated about 320 million yuan ($48 million) in tourism-related revenue, according to local authorities.

Yet the neighborhood's appeal lies not only in its cultural attractions, but also in the way its traditions remain part of everyday life: in family homes doubling as restaurants, traditional courtyards adapted for businesses and artisan workshops opening their doors to visitors.

Bafang Shisanxiang is more than a preserved slice of the past. It remains a place where people live and work, and where old traditions continue to find new expressions.

Yang Mingze contributed to this story.