A village in Nanjing has been officially recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a model for rural development. She Village, located in the Dongshan Subdistrict of Jiangning District, Nanjing, was selected under the FAO's "Rural Recognition Initiative" for its integrated agricultural and tourism model, making it one of only two villages from Jiangsu Province and the sole representative from Nanjing to receive this international certification.
This ancient village, with a history spanning six centuries, has transformed its development trajectory. Moving beyond traditional paths, it has built a foundation on ecology, enriched its cultural core, and revitalized through industry, completing a remarkable transition from a former mining community to a sustainable and popular destination. It is now emerging as a standout example of a livable, workable, and harmonious rural area in Nanjing.
Integrated Agritourism Transforms Historic Village into Hotspot
Walking through She Village, the most eye-catching sights are the stylish "village cafes" nestled within its alleys. These businesses, often started by young urbanites returning to their hometowns, create a perfect blend of rural charm and metropolitan aesthetics. The village's popularity is palpable, exemplified by a newly opened coffee shop. "Java Coffee," which opened during the recent Labor Day holiday, quickly became a social media sensation with its strong Southeast Asian theme. Utilizing the natural elevation near the Longchumo amusement park, it features forest waterfalls, terrace seating with rattan chairs, and misty atmospheres, creating a "tropical rainforest" vibe that has earned it the nickname "Little Chiang Mai of Nanjing."
For many young visitors, "a good cup of coffee is important, but getting great photos is even more crucial." After seeing guides on social platforms, they often arrange visits with photographer friends. The forest terraces, bamboo lanterns, and the white noise of waterfalls perfectly cater to the contemporary desire for a "relaxed vibe." In recent years, leveraging its unique assets of "landscape ecology, ancient cultural heritage, and mining transformation," She Village has precisely targeted the integration of culture and industry. The village now hosts 34 cafes with diverse styles, creating multifaceted scenes like "coffee plus ancient architecture," "coffee plus countryside," "coffee plus cultural creativity," and "coffee plus intangible cultural heritage," giving it the highest density of village cafes in Nanjing. Furthermore, 153 distinctive businesses covering dining, accommodation, travel, shopping, and entertainment have been established, forming a comprehensive cultural tourism service network.
The results of She Village's transformation from a former mining village to a thriving agritourism model are clear. The community's collective operating income grew from 1.973 million yuan in 2020 to nearly 7 million yuan in 2025, an increase exceeding 250%. The "internet-famous village" traffic has been effectively converted into tangible developmental gains, charting a new revitalization path characterized by "cultural enrichment, spatial renewal, industrial prosperity, and shared wealth for villagers."
Artistic Empowerment Adds Modern Flair to Rural Life
As one of Nanjing's first batch of "Jinling Art Villages," She Village uses culture as a brush to continually infuse the ancient settlement with fresh, trendy vitality. With targeted support from agricultural and cultural authorities, artistic activities like "Jasmine Blooms, Enjoy with Nanjing" have broken the boundaries of traditional stages, moving into cafes and intangible cultural heritage experience centers to offer immersive观赏 experiences. The innovatively created "Art Market" interestingly juxtaposes street vendor calls with artistic performances, injecting creative energy into rural消费 spaces.
"Before, buying groceries was just buying groceries. Now you can stroll and watch performances at the same time; it's lively and has style," said Ms. Li, a frequent visitor to the market, noting that integrating art into daily life adds flavor to rural living. The活化利用 of local cultural载具 has made historical heritage tangible and accessible. Ancient Ming and Qing dynasty buildings like the Pan Family Old House and the Pan Family Ancestral Hall have been repurposed into exhibition spaces that blend historical depth with artistic atmosphere. Regular activities such as photography exhibitions and非遗体验 workshops allow villagers and tourists to transition from cultural "spectators" to active "protagonists" in rural construction.
Simultaneously, the mural art遍布村巷 has become a unique cultural signature for She Village. Collaborative creations by artists and villagers, featuring ecological scenes, trendy paintings, and murals themed on local dialects and sayings, form a流动的艺术长廊. "We also participated in painting the mural near our home, depicting the village's landscapes and old houses. It feels very亲切," said villager Master Wang, who participated in the创作. These artworks not only beautify the village but also serve as platforms for conveying nostalgia and promoting new social trends. The接连推出 of文创产品 like hand-drawn maps and themed village cafe calendars keeps the 600-year-old village持续 "trendy," with artistic气息浸润 every corner.
Asset Revitalization and Shared Prosperity for Villagers
The ultimate goal of rural development is to ensure villagers共享 the成果. In recent years, building on its特色 resources like landscapes, ancient architecture, the "Little Sichuan-Tibet Line" road, and the Hengshan Reservoir, She Village has developed复合型文旅产品 including田园观光, ancient-style研学, outdoor sports, and乡村度假. This持续推动 the village's transition from "selling stones" to "selling scenery, culture, experiences, and lifestyle."
With the revitalization of闲置 resources, the village's old houses have become valuable assets. Reportedly, the village has cumulatively leased 16,000 square meters of property, revitalizing over 220闲置农房. "The annual rent is over 80,000 yuan, and加上我 selling vegetables and farming, life is much more comfortable than a few years ago," said villager Sun Lishan, pointing with a smile at an old house being renovated nearby. "That one was just rented out too; I heard they're planning a tie-dye workshop. At our age, we can even get a 'raise' by keeping our old houses."
The community also微改造提升 the original library, transforming it into the "Roadside" book cafe, which integrates coffee, reading, and创业孵化. Through a barista training program引入专业运营, it successfully nurtured two local baristas who returned to open their own shops. Concurrently, the village's homestay industry has established a三级供给体系 involving "collective leadership,村民自办, and social capital." With the村集体's标杆 project "Ancient Style・Journey into the Wild" leading the way, it has spurred村民自办 of 9 homestays and attracted social capital to develop 3 boutique courtyards. In 2025, the total homestay revenue in the village exceeded 5.2 million yuan, providing employment for over 200 villagers locally and facilitating the return of more than 20 local youths to start businesses.
"Learning skills and opening a shop in the village means no need to奔波外出. I can earn money and take care of my family, steadily realizing the wish of increasing income right at my doorstep,"感慨道 one returning entrepreneur, noting that the红利 of rural revitalization are tangibly benefiting every villager. From an internationally certified model village to a幸福家园 where people live and work in contentment, She Village has tackled development through农旅融合, enhanced quality through artistic empowerment, and increased efficiency through asset revitalization. Its实践 proves that a Chinese-style modern rural area can preserve nostalgia, accommodate dreams, and ultimately achieve the美好愿景 of industrial prosperity, rural beauty, and村民 wealth.
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