Wanda facilitates poverty alleviation in Danzhai
chinadaily.com.cn, 07-18-2018
Dancers perform at the one-year anniversary of Wanda Town in Danzhai county, Guizhou province, on July 2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Wanda Town in Danzhai county, Southwest China's Guizhou province celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month with events ranging from fashion shows and musicals to embroidery competitions.
With a total investment of 700 million yuan ($105 million) from China's real-estate giant Wanda Group, the tourism town was set up last July in cooperation with the local Danzhai government as a means of alleviating poverty.
Wanda Group will donate another 500 million yuan to support the second-phase of construction of the town, said Qi Jie, president of Wanda Commercial Management Group, the commercial property arm of Wanda.
The first phase of construction includes the renovation of Donghu Lake Scenic Area, business street, folk culture experience center and related facilities while the second phase will focus on promoting the local musical drama Splendid Danzhai and building a traditional culture activity center, visitor center and three spa hotels in order to provide a better experience for visitors.
Aiming to establish Danzhai as a renowned tourist resort, Wanda will attract investment for an aquatic amusement program and specialty inns, added Qi.
The group chose Danzhai to carry out its poverty reduction project for many reasons. While Danzhai is one of the most impoverished counties in China, it is also a beautiful place surrounded by verdant mountains and the crystalline Donghu Lake.
Moreover, Danzhai boasts the rich ethnic culture of the Miao and Dong ethnic peoples, including silver jewelry making, handcrafted birdcages called "Kala", batik and traditional Miao dance.
Statistics show that more than 5.5 million tourists have visited Danzhai, increasing its total tourism revenue to 2.43 billion yuan ($366 million) by the end of 2017 一 four times that of 2016. Thousands of local residents increased their income by starting their own businesses in the village and selling agricultural products, handicrafts and food to tourists.
"Thanks to Wanda's investment, resources and management, Danzhai effectively converted its rich environment and traditional culture into tourism revenue," said Wang Dayang, an official of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.
"Danzhai Wanda Town has set a good example for enterprises to not only alleviate poverty by promoting local industry, but also find a sustainable approach to increase the incomes of local residents," said Wang.
In addition to building the tourism town, Wanda Group also invested in the establishment of Guizhou Wanda Career Technical College in Danzhai, stressing the importance of education and employment for the area's long-term development.
Professional training programs, such as nursing, accounting and tourism management, are provided to local students. According to Wanda's report, 405 students have enrolled in the college and excellent graduates will be employed by Wanda Group.
Wanda's actions in Danzhai are part of a government initiative which encourages companies to help impoverished villages. By the end of 2017, 462,000 companies have joined the poverty reduction program in 336,000 villages, benefiting 6.2 million impoverished people, according to a 2018 report by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.
chinadaily.com.cn, 07-18-2018
Dancers perform at the one-year anniversary of Wanda Town in Danzhai county, Guizhou province, on July 2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Wanda Town in Danzhai county, Southwest China's Guizhou province celebrated its one-year anniversary earlier this month with events ranging from fashion shows and musicals to embroidery competitions.
With a total investment of 700 million yuan ($105 million) from China's real-estate giant Wanda Group, the tourism town was set up last July in cooperation with the local Danzhai government as a means of alleviating poverty.
Wanda Group will donate another 500 million yuan to support the second-phase of construction of the town, said Qi Jie, president of Wanda Commercial Management Group, the commercial property arm of Wanda.
The first phase of construction includes the renovation of Donghu Lake Scenic Area, business street, folk culture experience center and related facilities while the second phase will focus on promoting the local musical drama Splendid Danzhai and building a traditional culture activity center, visitor center and three spa hotels in order to provide a better experience for visitors.
Aiming to establish Danzhai as a renowned tourist resort, Wanda will attract investment for an aquatic amusement program and specialty inns, added Qi.
The group chose Danzhai to carry out its poverty reduction project for many reasons. While Danzhai is one of the most impoverished counties in China, it is also a beautiful place surrounded by verdant mountains and the crystalline Donghu Lake.
Moreover, Danzhai boasts the rich ethnic culture of the Miao and Dong ethnic peoples, including silver jewelry making, handcrafted birdcages called "Kala", batik and traditional Miao dance.
Statistics show that more than 5.5 million tourists have visited Danzhai, increasing its total tourism revenue to 2.43 billion yuan ($366 million) by the end of 2017 一 four times that of 2016. Thousands of local residents increased their income by starting their own businesses in the village and selling agricultural products, handicrafts and food to tourists.
"Thanks to Wanda's investment, resources and management, Danzhai effectively converted its rich environment and traditional culture into tourism revenue," said Wang Dayang, an official of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.
"Danzhai Wanda Town has set a good example for enterprises to not only alleviate poverty by promoting local industry, but also find a sustainable approach to increase the incomes of local residents," said Wang.
In addition to building the tourism town, Wanda Group also invested in the establishment of Guizhou Wanda Career Technical College in Danzhai, stressing the importance of education and employment for the area's long-term development.
Professional training programs, such as nursing, accounting and tourism management, are provided to local students. According to Wanda's report, 405 students have enrolled in the college and excellent graduates will be employed by Wanda Group.
Wanda's actions in Danzhai are part of a government initiative which encourages companies to help impoverished villages. By the end of 2017, 462,000 companies have joined the poverty reduction program in 336,000 villages, benefiting 6.2 million impoverished people, according to a 2018 report by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.
