As we step into the “Shiwuyue Hostel,” the electric curtains draw back, revealing a stunning view of the Three Gorges Dam through the floor-to-ceiling windows. During the recent National Day holiday, this hostel, located in Sandouping Town, Yichang City, Hubei Province, gained widespread popularity for its “Dam View Room” offerings.
Situated on the southern bank of the Yangtze River’s Xiling Gorge, Sandouping Town is famously known as the “First Town of the Three Gorges Dam,” boasting excellent vantage points for observing the dam. The town now features over 80 quaint and charming hostels, welcoming more than 270,000 overnight visitors annually.
However, just a decade ago, Sandouping was merely a stopover for tourists to grab a meal or take a break. According to Tian Shuhan, a publicity committee member of the town, Sandouping serves as a crucial port connecting the Three Gorges Dam and the famed Three Gorges Family, both rated as top-tier scenic spots. While the town sees hundreds of thousands of transient travelers each year, very few choose to spend the night. “We have a large flow of visitors, but its impact on the local economy was minimal,” Tian shared.
The turning point came in 2014, when the government made entry to the Three Gorges Dam free for Chinese tourists, including those from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas. This spurred many young people to return home and start businesses, as local residents transformed their homes into guest accommodations. Thus, the “homestay boom” began.
Nevertheless, the initial development of homestays in Sandouping was unrefined, lacking differentiation and unique appeal, which made it difficult to meet diverse and personalized lodging needs of visitors.
To tackle the “growing pains” of rural homestays, Sandouping has leveraged its rich natural resources and strategic location to create a focus on destination-driven and culturally immersive lodging options. This strategy has attracted investors and shifted the homestay industry from a rough-and-tumble approach to one of higher quality. With the establishment of several boutique homestays, the town has enhanced its tourism capacity, encouraging more visitors to linger and stay longer.
As the number of overnight guests rises, Sandouping has gradually enriched its nighttime tourism offerings. This year, the town introduced a new holographic projection light show named “Shenniu Qimiao Night,” which invites visitors to immerse themselves in the enchanting cultural appeal of Shenniu while giving new life to the ancient Huangling Temple.
The shift from merely attracting visitors to inspiring them to stay overnight marks a significant transformation in Sandouping’s tourism landscape. In 2023, the town’s homestay industry generated annual revenues exceeding 25 million yuan, injecting vitality into rural revitalization efforts.
