12 special June 17-18, 2017 DAILY

Scenic zone utilizes all-region tourism Natural and cultural attractions to increase locals’ incomes and protect to alleviate poverty the environment, traditions By WANG JINHUI [email protected]

Despite its magnificent waterfall landscape and untouched natural scenery, the Huangguoshu scenic zone in , Guizhou province, is facing a tough road ahead in its eff orts to lift villagers out of poverty and achieve sustainable development, according to local offi cials. “The key to poverty alleviation is forming a whole tourism industry chain and encouraging poor house- holds to take part in the process,” said Xu Qing, deputy director of the zone’s political department. “We should implement targeted measures to advance all-region tourism and endeavor to change every village into a scenic spot,” Xu said. All-region tourism is diff erent to traditional tourism as it replaces the idea of scenic sites being independent from the surrounding area. Instead, an entire region becomes a tourist destination. This model will boost infrastructure, investment, cul- ture and the economy, increasing prosperity throughout the whole area, according to local offi cials. Last year, the zone’s tourism revenue reached 7.7 billion yuan ($1.14 billion), up 50 percent year-on-year. The added value of the service industry accounted for 78.1 percent of the zone’s gross domestic product. The zone plans to invest 30 million yuan per year in poverty alleviation. A fantastic view of in Anshun, Guizhou province, which is typical of the karst landform. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Targeted strategies Xu said that the burgeoning growth of the tourism industry has opened a window for villagers who still live below the poverty line. By analyzing the advantages and resources of every Waterfall aims for recognition village, the area will map out tailored plans for its 18 villages and 1,851 poor households. It will see which are suitable for certain strategies, such as promoting ethnic group cultures, opening farm stays and organic gardens, or developing sightseeing attractions. as UNESCO World Heritage site To improve incomes and protect the local environ- ment under the all-region tourism model, the zone fi rst set its sights on organic farming. One such demonstration area is the Daweng village By LI YOU culture and architec- in Baishui county, where oranges have helped numer- [email protected] ture, the Miao ethnic tradi- ous villagers to become prosperous and have attracted tions of living in caves, as well migrant workers to return to start their own businesses Huangguoshu Waterfall, as water conservation projects in their hometown. located in the Huangguoshu- in Baotun village,” said Zhu Yang Lan, a local villager who oversees 1.32 hectares Tunpu landscape cluster in the Guiyun, deputy Party secretary of orange trees, said she is satisfi ed with her life because city of Anshun in Guizhou prov- of Anshun city. she no longer needs to search for unstable work far from ince, is known as the greatest The key point of There are plenty of examples home. “Planting oranges has been the most important waterfall in China. the application in karst regions showcasing economic source for the household and I feel happy to The local government is cur- the interactions of human and stay with my family,” she said. rently submitting a bid to UNES- is the unique nature. Although human activ- Pan Yongmei, secretary of Daweng village’s Party CO for the area’s nomination as ities can result in rocky desert- committee, said that in the past the village had no major a World Natural and Cultural lifestyles of the ifi cation under some extreme sources of income and one third of the population had Heritage site. conditions, some regions have left to fi nd work in urban areas. “Now they are willing Huangguoshu Waterfall is Miao and Bouyei achieved balance through to come back home to plant orange trees and open farm 77.8 meters high and 101 meters interaction and have evolved stays. Those oranges are not only fortune fruits, but also wide. It can be viewed from all ethnic groups into unique cultural scenery, bring hope and encouragement for the future,” Pan said. angles, even from behind the A woman wears traditional Han dress at Tunpu in Anshun. The area still according to Paul Williams, Several years ago, a total of 880 people in a similar waterfall itself. in the karst preserves traditions and cultures dating back to 600 years ago such as professor at the department village lived by cutting fi rewood, mowing and lighting The arching rainbow above landform...” ancestor worship. of geography and environmen- fi res to cook. In 2007, Pan introduced 1,200 manda- the pool adds splendid colors to tal science at the University of rin orange seeds to 10 households. They later earned the pure waterscape. Zhu Guiyun, deputy Party Auckland, New Zealand. 180,000 yuan in three years. In 2012, the total plantation The main body of the water- secretary of Anshun to Xiong Kangning, a professor Huangguoshu waterfall scen- As part of the next step of area of mandarin oranges reached 23.31 hectares, with fall is 67 meters high and 83.3 at Guizhou Normal University. ery area fi rst applied for World the application, the local gov- an average annual production of 7,500 kilograms per meters wide. Surrounding the The Getu River landscape Natural Heritage site status, the ernment is establishing the hectare and total revenue of 1.05 million yuan. Today, main waterfall are 18 smaller embodies the ancient communi- application was unsuccessful scientifi c research and moni- the total plantation area has expanded to 396 hectares. but beautiful waterfalls, includ- 77.8 ties built up by the Miao ethnic because the surrounding build- toring of the history and cul- In addition to oranges, the Huangguoshu scenic zone ing Luositan Waterfall, Silver- group under the natural condi- ings and low forest coverage ture of the local ethnic groups’ is also promoting the planting of peaches, cherries and Chain Waterfall and Dishui- meters tions of special karst landforms. rate of Banbian Street disrupted relationship with the karst plums, and is launching sustainable projects such as tan Waterfall, making up the the height of Huangguoshu Their traditions of living in the natural scenery. environment. rocky desertifi cation control, aff orestation and road Huangguoshu Waterfalls Clus- Waterfall caves, cave burial culture and At present, the local govern- Recently, they have organized landscaping. ter, spanning more than 100 rock climbing are the living ment has restarted the applica- domestic and foreign research The zone has 3,330 hectares of forests, with 53 per- square kilometers. encyclopedia of residents’ inter- tion plan after reconstructing organizations to carry out fi eld cent forest coverage, and 666 hectares of rocky deserti- It took 100,000 to 500,000 active daily life with nature. Banbian Street and recovering studies in this area, striving to fi cation control greenery. years for such awe-inspiring trict of Huangguoshu-Tunpu also The Getu River has the larg- the forest. achieve nomination for a World Muxiahe village in Longgong town has also benefi ted scenery to develop. It is typical comprises anthropological and est-capacity caves in the world. In July 2014, a special con- Natural and Cultural Heritage from poverty alleviation based on all-region tourism. of the karst landform, in which cultural heritage dating back to Its precipitous canyons and ference was held by the provin- site by 2020. “The biggest problem concerning the development the waterfall is formed by the the 14th century. caves showcase the characteris- cial government to discuss the Adhering to the belief that of our village is transport and infrastructure,” said Lei dissolution of soluble rocks. The ancient villages, bridges tics of the karst landform. application for Huangguoshu- our cultural and natural heri- Xingfa, secretary of Muxiahe village’s Party committee, Known as the Kingdom and military barracks scat- “The Huangguoshu-Tunpu Tunpu landscape’s nomination tage is an irreplaceable source adding that the region has picturesque views and suffi - of Karst, the formation of the tered around the Huangguoshu landscape cluster retained the as a World Natural and Cul- of inspiration, World Heritage is ccientient agriculturalagricultural resources despitedespite itsits rugged mountainmountain waterfall is characterized by region have kept their original integrated image of ancient tural Heritage site. “our legacy from the past, what roads and lack of modern facilities. underground drainage systems appearances. Jianghuai culture, the cultures After one month, the local we live with today, and what we Recently, the villagevillage renovated 8,600-square-meters with sinkholes and caves. The carvings, ritual sites and of the Miao and Bouyei ethnic government organized a pass on to future generations”, ooff landscape and initiated projects to build roads, During the erosion process of daily defense systems are well- groups, which is an outstanding working group to focus on the according to UNESCO’s defi ni- iimprovemprove sewage ddisposalisposal and iinstallnstall vvillageillage street lamps. the rivers, the water constantly preserved, showcasing the life- creation of diff erent streams of application. Thereafter, a com- tion. The Egyptian pyramids, the Last year, the regionregion upgraded itsits local agriculturalagricultural infiltrated and corroded the style of the Bouyei ethnic groups traditional human cultures in prehensive plan was formed Great Barrier Reef in Australia, iindustries,ndustries, including agricultural sightseeing. It found-found- waterbed, resulting in the cur- inhabiting Guizhou province the karst area. with oversight from all levels the baroque cathedrals of Latin ed aap professionalprofessional cooperativecooperative ageagencyncy of fafarmersrmemeersr to parpar-- rent majestic waterfall and the over the past 600 years. Apart “It provides important evi- of government. America and the Great Wall of ticticipateicipatet in beabebeautifyingutifyify ng thehehe vivvillage,llallaagege,g boboostingostinginingng agricultureaga ricriicultull ureure deep steep gorges. from the Huangguoshu Water- dence for the study of tradition- “The key point of the appli- China, as well as other unique andndd ththee llocalocal eeconomy.connomyomomymy. Beyond its extraordinary natu- fall, the Huangguoshu-Tunpu al cultures, ancient architecture cation is the unique lifestyles and diverse places, all make up ral scenery and unique landform landscape cluster also covers the and lifestyles in the area,” Xiong of the Miao and Bouyei ethnic the world’s heritage, according characteristics, the scenery dis- Getu River landscape, according said. In the 1990s, when the groups in the karst landform, to the organization.

Sunset falls over the mountainous area of the Dragon King’s Palace scenic zone in Guizhou.