Shibadong becomes model village for targeted poverty alleviation

In early spring, Shibadong Village of Huayuan County in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture still attracts a constant stream of tourists. They may stroll through the village, enjoy Miao drum performances, learn Miao embroidery skills, and taste Miao fish with pickled Chinese cabbage.

A tourist from Guangzhou City was captivated by the beautiful natural scenery, distinctive residential buildings, and Miao ethnic customs upon his first visit to Shibadong Village. He said, “Shibadong Village is like a modern ‘Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains’ (a legendary landscape painting), and people living here are contented and happy.” In the past, local people lived in poverty due to inconvenient transport and scare arable land. At that time, the annual per capita net income of the entire village was only 1,668 yuan, less than one fifth of the national average, and more than half of the village’s families were impoverished households.

Shibadong Village consists of Lizizhai, Zhuzizhai, Feichongzhai, and Dangrongzhai. After getting rid of poverty, the four areas faced uneven development, and Lizizhai attracted all tourists. The village made efforts to extend the cultural and tourism industry chain based on Red resources and Miao culture.

Zhuzizhai provided wax printing and farming experience, Dangrongzhai built a rural complex that integrates training, accommodation, and catering, and Feichongzhai built a cultural square and a day care center, so as to attract tourists with their diverse business formats, provide more jobs, and promote coordinated development and common prosperity throughout the village. “Nowadays, Shibadong Village has formed a ‘tourism plus’ industry system of rural tourism, kiwi fruit, Miao embroidery, and mountain spring water. There are also some new professions such as agritainment owners, farmer guides, and livestreamers, and 398 people have achieved employment at their doorstep,” said Long Ke, first secretary of the village, adding that in 2023, the annual per capita income in Shibadong Village was 25,456 yuan and the village collective economic income reached 5.07 million yuan. The village received 840,000 tourists, achieved the tourism revenue of nearly 20 million yuan and provided jobs for more than 30,000 people living in the surrounding areas. Shibadong Village develops itself and also drives the development of surrounding seven villages.

In the Shibadong Village Scenic Area, a tour guide from Banli Village explains the Red story to tourists, a villager from Ma’an Village is busy promoting “Shibadong Golden Tea”, and an intern from Maoping Village learns needlework in a Miao embroidery workshop. Villagers from different villages work in Shibadong Mountain Spring Water Plant.

Shi Jintong, Party secretary of Shibadong Village, said that the village will increase efforts for rural revitalization together with surrounding villages.