Rural governance becomes catalyst for development of tourism

The stone stairs in Ludi village. [Photo/Guiyang Daily]

Since the beginning of this year, Ludi village in Huaxi district has been working hard to build a livable, business-friendly, and beautiful village by promoting rural governance, which has led to the rapid development of rural tourism.

Ludi village, formerly known as Staircase village, earned its name because it is situated on a steep mountainside, and villagers ascending from below look as if they are climbing a staircase.

"The village has since built a 108-step stone staircase, which has become one of its most iconic features," said Ban Xiaoyu, a member of the village committee. "Climbing the stairs, you will come across the former residence of Wu Zhongfan. Continuing onward, you'll encounter the picturesque nine bends of the Ludi River."

In order to galvanize rural tourism, the village has made efforts to implement garbage classification, promote hygiene habits, and treat sewage, which has led to an improved environment and improved water quality in the Ludi River, bringing investment to the village.

Wang Jiaxun, the owner of Zhuangshe Catering Agritainment in Huaxi district, has invested over 20 million yuan ($2.79 million) to build 13 guesthouses and an agritainment facility in the village.

"The guesthouses have a total of 18 rooms, and the agritainment facility can accommodate over 1,500 people per day. We expect to receive more than 25,000 visitors this year and generate more than 400,000 yuan in tourism revenue," said Wang.

With the popularity of summer tourism, he believes that more and more tourists will choose to stay in the village for a summer retreat, making the development of rural tourism even more promising.

To further expand the development of local tourism, Ludi village is also planning to transform and upgrade 27 unused farmhouses after attracting investment.