Planting seeds

Long Yutong, 25, arrived in Azheke in July 2024 and is set to complete her volunteer work in February.

During her stay, she has been exploring how tourism has created job opportunities for local Hani women, contributing to their personal growth.

"Many women are still limited to basic tasks like housekeeping due to their lack of education," Long said. "The village is so isolated and traditional that some men feel uneasy when their wives earn more than they do."

She recalled an incident where a local woman fluent in Mandarin was offered a position at the tourism company. Her husband objected to her taking a public-facing role, and she ultimately had to decline the opportunity.

Even with these challenges, Long observed that as the local economy improved and villagers gained more exposure to the outside world, many women began to develop a stronger sense of independence.

She remembered a woman with the surname Wu, who, despite having no formal education, was full of ideas and actively managed her own business as tourism in the village expanded. Over time, Wu became more confident and outgoing in her interactions with visitors.

"I want to earn my own money so my children can receive a better education," she told Long.

Long also noticed a subtle yet significant shift in how Wu identified herself. Traditionally, local women are often addressed as "Asao" (sister-in-law), a term tied to their marital status. However, Wu rejected this label, as she didn't want to be defined by her relationship to a man.

"Although the local culture remains traditional, seeing these women embrace more modern perspectives makes me feel that real change is happening here," Long said.

The Azheke Plan has become a successful model and is now being introduced in various villages across Yunnan, Xinjiang, and other regions.

Although adapting it to different areas presents new challenges, Yang Bing, currently a postdoctoral researcher at SYSU, remains dedicated to both research and practical application.

"Azheke is more than just a case study for my research paper — it has shaped my perspective on tourism and poverty alleviation, inspiring me to focus on practical solutions," he said.