Seven more Chinese villages recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO
Seven latest additions to UN list takes China's total to 15, reflecting country's commitment to vitalizing rural areas through tourism
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Xitou in Zhejiang province
Tucked away in the mountainous region of Longquan, Zhejiang province, Xitou village is a place steeped in a millennium-long tradition of celadon porcelain making. Here, families have protected and handed down their artisanal techniques through the generations, preserving a cultural heritage that continues to define the village.
The village, with a history of 1,400 years, boasts seven ancient kilns still in use, a testament to its rich porcelain culture. The largest is a snake-shaped kiln nestled along a mountain. In 2009, the traditional wood-fired technique of Longquan celadon porcelain was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.