Ethnic Commercial Block in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County

Recently, the Ethnic Commercial Block in Chengbu Miao Autonomous County was awarded the title of a provincial tourism leisure block for 2025. Located along the Wushui River, this Miao-style commercial block has become another calling card of Shaoyang's cultural tourism.

Centered around the southern wind-rain bridge, the block stretches 800 meters from Rulin Bridge in the east to Rongchang Pavilion in the west, facing Nanhu Park across the river. The block covers a planned area of 8,522 square meters with a built-up area of 2,300 square meters. The total investment is 30 million yuan. Divided into east and west zones, the block features 42 specialty shops offering cultural tourism products, local snacks, ethnic cultural experiences, and more. Coupled with a 2.6-kilometer performing belt from Shizi Mountain in the east to Rubber Dam in the west, the block offers a unique experience of "enjoying sightseeing by day and savoring flavors by night."

On the bluestone-paved paths, wooden row houses with upturned eaves mirror the green waves of the Wushui River, while Miao totems are featured in door and window carvings. "After the tourism development conference, the number of visitors has kept growing. Our Miao costume rental and travel photography orders are fully booked," said a shop owner. The shop receives over 50 visits daily on average, with traditional Miao costumes set against landmarks like the wind-rain bridge and Rongchang Pavilion becoming must-have photo backdrops. The dining area is equally bustling, offering local delicacies such as youcha (oil tea), Qingqianliu tea, and Nanshan fern shoots. Visitors laugh and say, "We want to try every dish—our stomachs are full but we just can't stop."

As night falls, lights along the boardwalk illuminate the graceful silhouette of the wind-rain bridge. China's first digital Miao fantasy cruise titled "The Full Moon over the Wushui River" takes center stage. The 2.6-kilometer Wushui waterway becomes a natural stage, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Miao stories from their boats. "Drinking oil tea while watching the show, moving with the boat as the drama unfolds on the river—it feels like stepping into Miao life," said Mr. Wu, a local resident on a night cruise with his family. The boats offer ingredients for oil tea, such as soybeans, dried sticky rice, peanuts, and glutinous rice cakes, while Miao brothers and sisters pour tea and sing. Through interplay of light and shadow, the story of "a wedding, a bloodline, a righteous deed, and a family reunion" reveals the profound meaning of "what makes a home."

Data shows that since its launch in September 2024, the cruise project has received over 35,000 tourist visits, boosting turnover of nearby shops by two to three times and increasing hotel occupancy by more than 50% year-on-year. Ms. Xiang, a homestay owner, said frankly, "The night cruise makes tourists want to stay overnight—business is so much better than before."

As a key project of the Third Shaoyang Tourism Development Conference in 2024, the block has received over 500,000 visits since its opening and has created over 200 jobs. A spokesperson from the Chengbu County Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports said that in the next phase, Chengbu will continue to enhance supporting facilities, explore Miao cultural heritage, and introduce more immersive experiences, making this provincial tourism leisure block an important platform for showcasing Miao charm and driving cultural tourism consumption.

Chinese source: People's Daily