Dazu Village Revitalization Initiative

Background

Dazu Village, located in Lugu Lake Town, Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province, sits on the shores of Lugu Lake at the Sichuan–Yunnan border. It is the largest Naxi village around the lake and retains distinctive Mosuo cultural traits. With its stunning natural scenery and rich cultural heritage, the village holds strong potential for integrated ecological, cultural, and tourism development.

Challenges

The village faces environmental degradation, soil erosion, outdated infrastructure, and disrupted architectural character. Its economy relies heavily on seasonal tourism, with a limited and unsustainable industrial structure.

Vision

The project aims to create a revitalization model for ethnic minority villages that integrates ecological restoration, cultural heritage preservation, and tourism development—achieving a sustainable balance between environment, culture, and economy.

Key strategies

The project advances through four key strategies—ranging from infrastructure enhancement to ecological restoration, cultural integration, and tourism development—holistically improving environmental quality, cultural vitality, and economic resilience.

Rural Infrastructure

Improve the transportation network; restore traditional streets and architecture using local materials; preserve the timber structures of Mosuo dwellings; repurpose vacant buildings into visitor facilities; and create ecological public spaces with native plantings.

Ecological Restoration

Transform concrete drainage channels into ecological waterways to restore natural hydrological cycles and improve water quality; rehabilitate five key habitats—forest, meadow, alpine lake, wetland, and farmland—to boost biodiversity and resilience.

Cultural Preservation

Integrate Mosuo, Naxi, and Tibetan Buddhist cultural elements into spatial design; create immersive cultural spaces to sustain living heritage; and weave natural and ethnic imagery into everyday landscapes for tangible, participatory, and inheritable experiences.

Cultural–Tourism Integration

Combine the matrilineal courtyard layout with contemporary design; curate local product sales and immersive cultural experiences; and promote community-run homestays, markets, and tourism services, generating 230 jobs (70% for locals) and raising per capita income to RMB 30,000, fostering a self-sustaining rural economy.