“We never thought about coming to Wayaoping before, but we didn’t expect it to become so beautiful,” said Ms. Zhang, a local resident. She invited her retired friends to Wayaoping to take pictures and experience the new changes along the Cuijiang River on weekends when there are fewer visitors.

 

There are many tourists like her. “We saw this place on Douyin (TikTok). Many people in our WeChat circle came here wearing Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing). We also want to come and try it out,” said Ms. Yuan, a tourist from Guangdong, who couldn't wait to take out her phone and take pictures as soon as she got off the boat.

 

 

In the historical and cultural ancient village of Wayaoping, the originally dilapidated ancient street has been completely renovated, with ancient and elegant archways, quaint shops in the streets and alleys, and a collection of characteristic foods such as Jiahe inverted vat wine, Anren stewed pig's feet with herbs, and Bailutang pork rice noodles, attracting a steady stream of visitors. 

 

Along the river, the overgrown wasteland has also been transformed into boutique homestay inns with floor-to-ceiling windows. Walking out of the ancient street, many tourists and locals stroll along the river, enjoying the spectacular scenery of Danxia landform and misty Cuijiang River.

 

Wayaoping is located at the intersection of Leishui and Chenjiang rivers. Since ancient times, it has been a gathering place for merchants traveling north and south, and in the Ming Dynasty, it was even known as “Little Nanjing”. 

 

This year, relying on the beautiful Cuijiang River, the picturesque Danxia landform, and the ancient wharf, the city has upgraded Wayaoping in six months, awakening the ancient street and building an immersive intangible cultural heritage cultural town.

 

 

Since its opening on August 26, Wayaoping has received more than 120,000 visitors, with an average of over 6,000 visitors per day.

 

The increasing popularity has also allowed villagers to benefit from tourism. By adopting a model of “co-construction, co-management, and sharing” with local villages, the Wayaoping project has provided more than 90 stable employment opportunities for local villagers, driven more than 400 villagers to find employment and start businesses, and attracted many businesses to settle in. 

 

As of August 26, 55 merchants settled in Wayaoping.