Published: October 19, 2026
ANJI, Zhejiang, China — Yucun Village, once a mining and cement-producing community in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, has transformed into a rural tourism destination, recording approximately 1.25 million tourist visits in 2025 following the closure of polluting industries and the development of tourism, agriculture and other businesses.
Located in Anji County, Yucun previously depended heavily on mining and cement production, activities that contributed to environmental degradation and raised concerns about the sustainability of the village’s economy.
Local authorities and residents subsequently decided to close the mines and cement factories and pursue an economic development strategy focused on environmental restoration and tourism.
According to Chinese government accounts, the closures initially caused a sharp decline in the village’s collective income, creating uncertainty for residents whose livelihoods depended on the industries.
On Aug. 15, 2005, Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Yucun and supported the decision to close the polluting industries.
During the visit, Xi advanced the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” a concept that emphasizes the relationship between environmental protection and economic development.
The principle, widely known as the “Two Mountains” concept, subsequently became associated with Yucun’s development and China’s broader environmental policies.
Following the closure of the mines and cement factories, the village undertook environmental restoration and developed tourism-related businesses, including guesthouses, restaurants and cultural activities.
Agricultural production, including bamboo, bamboo shoots, medicinal herbs and edible fungi, also forms part of the local economy.
In 2021, the United Nations World Tourism Organization, now known as UN Tourism, selected Yucun as one of its Best Tourism Villages.
Liberian journalists during a visit at Yucun Village
The recognition highlighted the village’s environmental recovery and development of rural tourism.
According to UN Tourism, forests and vegetation cover more than 90% of Yucun’s area.
The village’s tourism development has also expanded into a larger area known as Greater Yucun, comprising 24 villages.
According to figures displayed during a field visit, Yucun Village recorded approximately 1.25 million tourist visits in 2025, while Greater Yucun registered about 10.8 million visits during the same period.
The display placed tourism revenue across Greater Yucun at approximately 11.8 billion yuan in 2025.
For Yucun Village itself, collective economic income reached 17.22 million yuan, while operating income stood at 11.88 million yuan.
The figures also showed farmers’ per-capita income at 74,800 yuan.
The statistics distinguish the original Yucun Village from Greater Yucun, which covers a larger geographical area and accounts for a greater share of tourism activities and revenue.
The development of tourism has been accompanied by the establishment of guesthouses, restaurants and other businesses providing services to visitors.
Local agricultural activities have also continued alongside the expansion of tourism and related commercial operations.
Yucun’s transition followed more than two decades of environmental restoration, infrastructure development and efforts to establish alternative economic activities after the closure of its mining and cement industries.
The village’s development is now presented by Chinese authorities as part of the country’s rural revitalization and environmental protection initiatives.
The visit to Yucun formed part of a two-week media seminar in China involving 23 Liberian journalists, including The Liberian Investigator’s legislative reporter, Gibson Gee.
The seminar, organized by the Research and Training Institute of the National Radio and Television Administration (RTI-NRTA), includes professional exchanges and field visits examining China’s media industry, economic development and rural transformation.
During the Yucun visit, participants examined the village’s transition from mining and cement production to tourism and other economic activities, as well as the environmental policies associated with its development.
The field visit also provided participants with information on tourism statistics, agricultural activities and the expansion of the Greater Yucun development area.
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