Yunnan turns focus to long-term tourist stays

云南正将发展重点转向推动游客延长停留时间

KUNMING — For travel enthusiast Miao Pengzhuo, who has explored countless destinations, the idea of settling down in one place never crossed his mind, until he discovered a village in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

昆明讯​​ —— 对于热衷旅行的苗鹏卓而言，探索过无数目的地的他，从未动过定居的念头。直到在中国西南部云南省发现了一座村庄，这种固有认知被彻底颠覆。

"Here, the sunsets never lose their magic, and life unfolds in its purest form, drawing me in with an irresistible charm," said Miao, a Sichuan native who has lived for five years in Haiyan, a centuries-old fishing village by Dianchi Lake.

“这里的夕阳永不褪去魔力，生活以最纯粹的姿态舒展，以令人无法抗拒的魅力将我深深吸引。”​​ 5年来一直居住在滇池畔千年渔村海晏的四川人苗鹏卓如是说。

The village's rich fishery culture, poetic landscapes and tranquil lifestyle have kept him rooted, replacing his once restless pursuit of new destinations with a deep sense of belonging.

​​这个村庄丰富的渔猎文明、如诗如画的景致与恬淡自适的生活图景，让他从此扎根于此。曾经驱使他不断追寻新目的地的躁动灵魂，此刻被浸润在深厚的归属感之中

Some 600 kilometers away, atop Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er city, engineer Jiang Cheng, from the southern economic powerhouse of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has also found a sanctuary.

在约600公里外的普洱市景迈山上，来自广东省深圳市——这座南方经济强市的工程师江成，同样觅得一方心灵栖所。

Each morning, he opens his laptop in a traditional Blang ethnic village, working against a backdrop of a rolling sea of clouds. The rhythmic tapping of his keyboard blends with the distant melody of tea pickers singing in the fields.

​​每个清晨，他总在布朗族传统村落中开启笔记本电脑，以翻滚的云海为背景伏案工作。节奏分明的键盘敲击声，与远处采茶工在田间吟唱的悠扬旋律交织成曲。

Two years ago, he rented an old house to be his base as he worked remotely.

​​两年前，他租下一间老房子作为远程办公的据点。

Miao and Jiang are among a growing number of travelers choosing to stay longer in Yunnan, immersing themselves in local life rather than rushing from one attraction to another.

苗鹏卓与江成正是云南“慢旅行”潮流中涌现的新生代旅居者代表。他们摒弃传统观光客“景点打卡式”的匆忙行程，选择以沉浸式旅居模式深度融入在地生活。​​

Industry insiders believe that this shift from whirlwind sightseeing to extended stays reflects a transformation in China's travel consumption.

业内人士指出，从"快餐式旅游"向"深度旅居"的模式转变，折射出中国旅游消费形态的结构性变革。

Data shows that in 2024, nearly 4 million long-term travelers settled in Yunnan, drawn by the opportunity to have a slower, more immersive experience in the province's ancient villages and terraced fields.

​​数据显示，2024年将有近400万长期旅居者扎根云南，他们受该省古老村落与梯田景观所提供的更慢节奏、更具沉浸感体验的机遇吸引。

"Long-term stays are not just about travel or residence, they represent a deeper cultural engagement and a way of life," said Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy.

“长期旅居不仅关乎旅行或居住，更代表着深度文化互动与一种生活方式的觉醒。”​​ ——中国旅游研究院院长戴斌

To meet this growing demand, Yunnan has launched an ambitious three-year initiative that includes establishing at least 3,000 designated villages tailored for travelers seeking wellness retreats, cultural immersion, educational programs and senior-living opportunities.

​​为满足持续增长的市场需求，云南省启动了一项雄心勃勃的三年行动计划，拟打造至少3,000个特色村落，聚焦康养度假、文化沉浸、教育项目及银发旅居等多元场景，精准对接细分客群需求。

This shift is also revitalizing rural communities, creating new economic opportunities for lesser-known towns.

这一转型正在激活乡村发展动能，为鲜为人知的县域城镇开辟新型经济机遇。

For instance, Yuanjiang county, which lacks any major tourist landmark, attracted 35,000 long-term visitors during this year's Spring Festival — nearly half the population of the county's urban area — thanks to its warm winter climate.

​​以缺乏知名旅游地标著称的元江县，凭借温暖宜居的冬季气候，在今年春节假期吸引了3.5万长期旅居者落户——这一数字接近该县城区人口半数。

For 2025, Yunnan has set an ambitious goal of attracting 6 million long-stay visitors.

云南省为2025年设定了吸引600万长期旅居游客的宏伟目标，标志着该省旅游发展战略从规模扩张向质量提升的结构性转型。​

Xinhua

新华社