Dongluo village in Xinghua, Jiangsu province, was the only village in Jiangsu to be named one of the world's Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism.
By 2025, the village's annual income had climbed to 3.02 million yuan ($449,312), up from 1.39 million yuan in 2017, with per capita disposable income exceeding 35,000 yuan.
A bird's-eye view of Dongluo village. [Photo provided to etaizhou.gov.cn]
This success builds on a tripartite model pairing government infrastructure with private capital and village coordination.
Planners preserved the village's original character and resisted over-commercialization. They reinforced the historic auditorium but retained its red-brick facade.
An exhibition hall was also established to showcase the village's 600-year history, highlighting its raised-field farming and net fishing traditions.
Tourism offerings now spans from spring canola flowers to autumn crab feasts, attracting new businesses. Gao Qingying, after a decade in Shanghai, returned to open a cafe, while younger villagers have launched tea houses.
The village's third-phase construction includes adding boutique guesthouses, extending study-tour routes, and expanding the farm-processing chain. Dongluo has become a global tourism destination and a model for rural development.