Villages in Hechi Win National Honor in China

Rural areas in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region are expected to be further promoted as attractive tourist spots, since three local villages were listed in the fourth collection of Chinese traditional villages.

Manjiangtun, in Huaili village of Nandan county, was established in Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644) and is a typically-styled village of the Yao ethnic group. Featured by Karst formation, the village is surrounded by rugged ridges and vine-draped woods. Manjiangtun, along with the surrounding ancient villages, make up an eco-friendly museum in Huaili village, which is a popular tourist attraction.

Also built in Ming Dynasty, Bahatun in Baya village of Nandan county, is adjacent to Guizhou province to the north and was listed in the first collection of special villages of Chinese ethnic groups years ago.

Numerous historical sites such as stone monuments, ancient wells and traditional housing still exist as the signs of Bahatun's long history. Vernacular pillar-supported houses, which originated from the Ming Dynasty, are typical Zhuang ethnic group buildings.

Baoshangtun, in Tian'e county, was built during the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911). Most of the housing in the village is made of wood and stone, with finely carved gates, panes, and eaves, and the walls are painted blue on white foundations.

Along with some other 1,600 villages from around the country, including the famous Xihulin village in the Mentougou district in Beijing, the listed villages in Hechi will enjoy national preferential policies to promote rural tourism as well as national-level protection.