Bringing prosperity to paradise

"Our goal is to attract more visitors with these well-designed, quality tourism products."

Developers of these products have engaged local poverty-alleviation officials and examined tourists' demands.

"Many travelers are interested in these new offerings," says Zhang Jinyuan, who's in charge of CTS' group-tour products in northern China.

"Online and phone inquiries have increased substantially. Other travel operators also contact us to ask about details and whether we can offer their customers customized itineraries."

He recommends an in-depth six-day trip to Shangri-La and Dechen county, which are separated by the Jinsha River. The price is 3,580 yuan per person, excluding air tickets.

"It stands out by providing three unique intangible-cultural-heritage workshop experiences," he says.

Travelers on this itinerary visit Shangri-La's Nixi township and learn how to make its celebrated black pottery, which dates to over 2,000 years ago.

They also dine on chicken stewed in black-ceramic pots. The dish became nationally famous after it was featured in the hit TV-documentary series, A Bite of China.

They also make leather bracelets and traditional thangka (Tibetan-Buddhist scroll paintings).