Spring in Panzhihua, Sichuan brings abundant sunshine. Known as the "Sunshine Fruit and Flower City," the warmth not only nurtures vibrant blooms and fresh fruit but is also quietly transforming local villages, making them fertile ground for new residents, new industries, and new ways of life. Different villages are presenting distinct answers to the challenge of rural revitalization.
Sun Run, born in 2004, is a "returnee" to Xigeda Village in Yanbian County, Panzhihua. Having previously worked in Chengdu, he has now partnered with others to open a café in the village that features wood-fired oven bread. "The village has changed tremendously," he noted. "Basic infrastructure was lacking before, but now it's full of young people, and there are many tourists on weekends."
The transformation of Xigeda Village stems from a systematic "whole-village operation" approach. The village introduced professional teams to invest in renovations, turning vacant farmhouses into cultural innovation spaces and shared offices. "We are exploring a path of 'turning resources into assets and farmers into shareholders'," said Li Xiaoxuan, the village's Rural CEO. The goal is to attract young creative talent and enhance the village's own capacity for sustainable development. The village is evolving from an ordinary settlement experiencing youth outmigration into a dynamic community attracting young people back to start businesses.
In Yishala Village, Renhe District, the melodies of ancient Tanjing music drift through its narrow lanes and red walls. This centuries-old art form has become a favorite cultural experience for visitors. "During busy times, we can perform three or four times a day," said Mao Guangfu, a septuagenarian Yi ethnic group elder. This ancient village, established during the Ming Dynasty, was once a post station on the Southern Silk Road. Xie Jinmei, Deputy Secretary of the Village Party Branch, has witnessed its revitalization firsthand. "When I married into the village in 2014, there wasn't even a proper parking lot," she recalled. By excavating ethnic culture and improving tourism facilities, Yishala successfully became a National 4A-Level Tourist Attraction in 2023, attracting nearly 420,000 visitors and generating comprehensive tourism revenue exceeding 85 million yuan that year. "Previously, most tourists came from nearby areas, but now during Spring Festival we see license plates from all over the country," Xie noted, emphasizing that culture has become the core resource driving development, turning the ancient驿站 into a cultural tourism hotspot.
"Our village is home to the city's first mango tree and is the only village to form a complete mango industry chain," said Ni Fangwei, Party Branch Secretary of Lixin Village in Renhe District. From seedlings and planting to e-commerce and deep processing, the mango industry here forms a complete closed loop. But Lixin Village doesn't stop at agriculture. The village introduced the "Radiant Land" suburban tourism project, which has welcomed over 300,000 visitors since its operation began around the National Day holiday period. The core attraction, the "Straw Hat Farm" unpowered amusement park, is often fully booked during holidays. The village collectively unified the transfer of approximately 400 mu of land to create ever-changing pastoral landscapes that have become popular photo spots for tourists. "Villagers receive rent, dividends, and can also work as laborers," Secretary Ni explained. The village collective increases income by operating markets and parking facilities, while villagers sell agricultural products or run homestays. "The biggest change is that the village is now vibrant, and villagers are gaining tangible happiness through their busy lives."
From the return of youth in Xigeda, to the cultural rebirth in Yishala, and the industrial integration in Lixin, the villages of Panzhihua are interpreting the meaning of rural revitalization through diverse approaches.