Have you ever dreamed of visiting a magical village nestled in the mountains? 🏞️ Well, let me tell you about Shibadong Village, a 400-year-old hidden gem in the heart of China! 🇨🇳
Shibadong Village, located in the Hunan Province of central China, was just named one of the “Best Tourism Villages” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for 2024! 🏆 Isn’t that amazing?
But what makes Shibadong so special? 🤔 Let’s find out!
Shibadong is home to the Miao people, one of China’s many ethnic groups with their unique culture and traditions. The Miao have a rich history of colorful festivals, beautiful music, and incredible handicrafts. 🎊🎶
One of their most famous traditions is Miao embroidery. Imagine creating intricate designs with bright threads to make patterns of dragons and flowers! 🐉🌸 In Shibadong, you can even visit embroidery halls to see these masterpieces up close.
The village is surrounded by lush forests, with trees covering 80% of the area! 🌳🌳🌳 It’s like living in a fairy-tale forest. The fresh air and stunning views make it a perfect place for nature lovers.
Every year, the Miao people celebrate the Ganqiu Festival, which welcomes the arrival of autumn. They play games, sing songs, and wear traditional clothes decorated with silver jewelry. It’s a joyful time for everyone! 🍂🎉
Shibadong wasn’t always famous. In 2013, the village started a plan to help people out of poverty by developing industries like tourism, bottled mineral water, and Miao embroidery. This means more jobs and opportunities for everyone. 💼
Now, young people are returning to Shibadong to work in tourism and share their culture with visitors from all over the world! 🌍 Over 200 young adults have come back to help their village shine.
In 2023, Shibadong welcomed more than 800,000 tourists and earned nearly 20 million yuan (that’s about $2.8 million)! 💰 That’s a lot of people discovering the magic of this special place.
Shibadong Village is a wonderful example of how culture, nature, and community can come together to create something truly special. Maybe one day, you’ll get to visit and see it all for yourself! ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
