this is fantastic. unfortunately, due to a litany of factors, these types of stories are seldom heard in china. we hear all about migrant workers, but in the harsh, judgmental tone of “外地人.” there is a horribly elitist preference for city life. it has its economic origins, but it erodes at social values and cohesion. people have become so privileged that they have no clue of the realities of their country. hell, neither do i. so many smaller towns i’ve been to have indeed been revitalized, but they carry the culture of the city. they commodify the rural experience. the people who own spaces and earn money are unsurprisingly people from cities moving back. it is still common to see the locals making a couple bucks from food carts set up around busy areas, kept in check by police.
maybe my experiences have only been in places city folk go to delude themselves into believing they know the countryside. that said, the explicitly non-tourist towns I’ve spent time in still seem to mimic the services and tastes of the city.
it disappoints me, as what i see is an insidious type of ignorance; hyper-commodification of cultural experiences masquerading as national pride.
Thank you for your thoughtful response—it touches on so many critical and often underexplored dimensions of rural China today. You’re absolutely right to highlight the elitist bias towards city life and the pejorative framing of migrant workers as "外地人." This tension reflects not only economic disparities but also a deeper cultural division that erodes social cohesion, as you point out.
The "revitalised" towns you describe—bearing the culture of cities rather than the countryside traditions—are a phenomenon I’ve been reflecting on myself. Rural revitalisation policies often aim to attract urban capital and talent back to rural areas, but, as you’ve observed, the benefits frequently flow to outsiders, not to long-time residents. The commodification of rural life as a consumable experience tailored to urban tastes risks hollowing out the authentic cultural roots that should be celebrated and sustained.
I also resonate with your frustration about hyper-commodification being passed off as national pride. It’s a delicate balance: rural tourism and development can bring much-needed income and infrastructure, but when these changes are driven primarily by urban perspectives, the local voice is easily sidelined.
Your comment adds an important layer to this discussion—one that I’d like to explore further in future posts. I’d love to hear more about the explicitly non-tourist towns you’ve spent time in. How did you see city-centric values manifest there? And what, if anything, stood out as authentically rural to you?
Thank you again for engaging with the topic. Points such as the ones you have made are exactly why I believe rural China deserves more attention.
I have been to a few small towns in Guangxi, mostly around Nanning, a couple short stops in Anhui, and towns around Sichuan. We went to 九寨沟 and intentionally went a bit off the beaten path, visiting smaller towns nestled in the mountains. They have one town that is right at the foot of the park, which has been commercialized to hell and back. It's fine as it is, but if you drive an hour or two back into the mountains, there is an immediately noticeable lack of said commercialization. The same goes for Guangxi and Anhui - bigger towns surround a major income source and surrounding towns seem to act as satellites of sorts.
I suppose when I think about the city-centric values in the places I've been, which are admittedly limited, it's less of an encroachment of values than a domination of values. Rural areas seem to be so dependent on cities that all of the industries they work for, in some way or another, are in service to cities. We also see those three floor concrete shells here or there. From my understanding, it's for greater compensation when relocated to a city? The simple fact that their work seems to be less for their own benefit (beyond wages) seems alienating. People want to move to the cities. The youth leaves and brings their children once of age. This undermines the transference of values and lifestyle, disrupting the spontaneous growth of rural families and the culture they create together.
I had a few truly "rural" experiences, in my opinion. One was in Guangxi: we were riding down winding country roads and happened upon a clementine farm. It was in a valley, with those sharp, steep mountains as a backdrop. We got off and walked around for a bit before happening upon a group of 阿姨. They generously shared some of the clementines with us, right off the tree. It was a truly organic moment; it wasn't some catered pick-and-eat farm, it wasn't in a tourist town. You would find this kind of generosity in the city - it's a shared culture - but not in this form.
Another would be talking to our driver in Sichuan. He told us the story of his life, starting from childhood. We learned about the poverty that had stricken the land and the gradual building up of infrastructure. He told us how they would go into the mountains the same time every year to pick medicine from deep in the snow. His family raises yaks. As he speaks, we are passing by temples, homes, and peaks decorated in Tibetan fabrics. We eventually stop at a large one with a tunnel surrounding the compound ordained with prayer wheels of varying size.
In these two places, I felt not an inkling of affectation. These were not places meant to be something, but simply were as they are. Yet, even when submersed in such fascinating places, the people still seemed unable to shake their admiration for the city. It's where one goes to get a better life. I think that's a damn shame. You're right; maybe the revitalization of rural areas requires a sacrifice in terms of culture. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but that cost would come in one form or another.
If you ever feel inclined, I’d love to read more about those stories and your observations in a longer-form article or story. They really capture the essence of rural China in such an organic way, and I think it would be fascinating to dive deeper into those experiences.
A really interesting article and comments. I've been reading out rurual eco-tourism development in Jiangxi - it appears to be based on consultation with local people and supporting the development of traditional culture (eg Hui architectural styles) - but I havent been to visit. I'd be interested in your take on this
I don’t have direct knowledge of the specific projects you are referring to, but I’d approach those claims with a degree of critical curiosity. While consultations with local residents can enrich projects, the reality can be more complex. Projects labelled as “supporting traditional culture” or “consulting local residents” often reflect the priorities of state planners or external investors rather than the genuine aspirations of local communities, which can sometimes lead to a “heritage industry” effect.
If you do get the chance to visit, I’d love to hear your impressions, particularly about the extent to which local communities feel empowered by these developments.
this is fantastic. unfortunately, due to a litany of factors, these types of stories are seldom heard in china. we hear all about migrant workers, but in the harsh, judgmental tone of “外地人.” there is a horribly elitist preference for city life. it has its economic origins, but it erodes at social values and cohesion. people have become so privileged that they have no clue of the realities of their country. hell, neither do i. so many smaller towns i’ve been to have indeed been revitalized, but they carry the culture of the city. they commodify the rural experience. the people who own spaces and earn money are unsurprisingly people from cities moving back. it is still common to see the locals making a couple bucks from food carts set up around busy areas, kept in check by police.
maybe my experiences have only been in places city folk go to delude themselves into believing they know the countryside. that said, the explicitly non-tourist towns I’ve spent time in still seem to mimic the services and tastes of the city.
it disappoints me, as what i see is an insidious type of ignorance; hyper-commodification of cultural experiences masquerading as national pride.
Thank you for your thoughtful response—it touches on so many critical and often underexplored dimensions of rural China today. You’re absolutely right to highlight the elitist bias towards city life and the pejorative framing of migrant workers as "外地人." This tension reflects not only economic disparities but also a deeper cultural division that erodes social cohesion, as you point out.
The "revitalised" towns you describe—bearing the culture of cities rather than the countryside traditions—are a phenomenon I’ve been reflecting on myself. Rural revitalisation policies often aim to attract urban capital and talent back to rural areas, but, as you’ve observed, the benefits frequently flow to outsiders, not to long-time residents. The commodification of rural life as a consumable experience tailored to urban tastes risks hollowing out the authentic cultural roots that should be celebrated and sustained.
I also resonate with your frustration about hyper-commodification being passed off as national pride. It’s a delicate balance: rural tourism and development can bring much-needed income and infrastructure, but when these changes are driven primarily by urban perspectives, the local voice is easily sidelined.
Your comment adds an important layer to this discussion—one that I’d like to explore further in future posts. I’d love to hear more about the explicitly non-tourist towns you’ve spent time in. How did you see city-centric values manifest there? And what, if anything, stood out as authentically rural to you?
Thank you again for engaging with the topic. Points such as the ones you have made are exactly why I believe rural China deserves more attention.
thank you for the response as well!
I have been to a few small towns in Guangxi, mostly around Nanning, a couple short stops in Anhui, and towns around Sichuan. We went to 九寨沟 and intentionally went a bit off the beaten path, visiting smaller towns nestled in the mountains. They have one town that is right at the foot of the park, which has been commercialized to hell and back. It's fine as it is, but if you drive an hour or two back into the mountains, there is an immediately noticeable lack of said commercialization. The same goes for Guangxi and Anhui - bigger towns surround a major income source and surrounding towns seem to act as satellites of sorts.
I suppose when I think about the city-centric values in the places I've been, which are admittedly limited, it's less of an encroachment of values than a domination of values. Rural areas seem to be so dependent on cities that all of the industries they work for, in some way or another, are in service to cities. We also see those three floor concrete shells here or there. From my understanding, it's for greater compensation when relocated to a city? The simple fact that their work seems to be less for their own benefit (beyond wages) seems alienating. People want to move to the cities. The youth leaves and brings their children once of age. This undermines the transference of values and lifestyle, disrupting the spontaneous growth of rural families and the culture they create together.
I had a few truly "rural" experiences, in my opinion. One was in Guangxi: we were riding down winding country roads and happened upon a clementine farm. It was in a valley, with those sharp, steep mountains as a backdrop. We got off and walked around for a bit before happening upon a group of 阿姨. They generously shared some of the clementines with us, right off the tree. It was a truly organic moment; it wasn't some catered pick-and-eat farm, it wasn't in a tourist town. You would find this kind of generosity in the city - it's a shared culture - but not in this form.
Another would be talking to our driver in Sichuan. He told us the story of his life, starting from childhood. We learned about the poverty that had stricken the land and the gradual building up of infrastructure. He told us how they would go into the mountains the same time every year to pick medicine from deep in the snow. His family raises yaks. As he speaks, we are passing by temples, homes, and peaks decorated in Tibetan fabrics. We eventually stop at a large one with a tunnel surrounding the compound ordained with prayer wheels of varying size.
In these two places, I felt not an inkling of affectation. These were not places meant to be something, but simply were as they are. Yet, even when submersed in such fascinating places, the people still seemed unable to shake their admiration for the city. It's where one goes to get a better life. I think that's a damn shame. You're right; maybe the revitalization of rural areas requires a sacrifice in terms of culture. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but that cost would come in one form or another.
If you ever feel inclined, I’d love to read more about those stories and your observations in a longer-form article or story. They really capture the essence of rural China in such an organic way, and I think it would be fascinating to dive deeper into those experiences.
that’s not a bad idea! maybe i’ll put pen to paper; i’ve got quite a few. wouldn’t mind seeing any you’ve got as well!
A really interesting article and comments. I've been reading out rurual eco-tourism development in Jiangxi - it appears to be based on consultation with local people and supporting the development of traditional culture (eg Hui architectural styles) - but I havent been to visit. I'd be interested in your take on this
I don’t have direct knowledge of the specific projects you are referring to, but I’d approach those claims with a degree of critical curiosity. While consultations with local residents can enrich projects, the reality can be more complex. Projects labelled as “supporting traditional culture” or “consulting local residents” often reflect the priorities of state planners or external investors rather than the genuine aspirations of local communities, which can sometimes lead to a “heritage industry” effect.
If you do get the chance to visit, I’d love to hear your impressions, particularly about the extent to which local communities feel empowered by these developments.