Border Village Transformation

Hebian, a Yao village on the China-Lao border, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, becoming a thriving hub for tourism and cultural exchange thanks to its successful homestay business.

Recently, dozens of experts and officials from over 10 Belt and Road partner countries paid a visit, staying for two nights to gain firsthand insight into China’s rural development strategies. Located in Mungla County, Yunnan Province, in southwest China, the once poverty-stricken village demonstrates how innovation and community spirit can breathe new life into rural areas of China.

The story of Hebian’s change began 10 years ago when Li Xiaoyun, a professor from China Agricultural University, and his colleagues made their first visit. Back then, the village was cut off from the cities, with no roads and no electricity. Hebian Village has become an example of China’s drive for rural development.