Gao returned to the village 12 years ago to revive the family tea business. His parents' generation could consider a profit of 10 yuan on half a kilogram of wholesale tea a good result. Today, he sells directly to visitors and offers tea-making experiences; retail margins can reach about 30 percent.
Tourism also drew Gao Li, a former nurse, back to the family tea trade. Visitors can pick leaves and learn how to process them before taking home their own tea. She said she gained about 3,000 WeChat contacts in a year, including around 200 regular customers.
The number of businesses in Nakeli has grown from 23 in 2008 to 135 in 2025. It welcomed more than one million tourist visits and earned 167 million yuan from tourism in 2025. About 80 percent of villagers now work or run businesses close to home.
Yang Ze, Party chief of Nakeli village, has helped restore old bridges and preserve the waterways, fields and stone paths that make Nakeli distinctive. Next, he wants to bring farming experiences and evening activities to one of the surrounding residential groups, so the benefits extend beyond the main tourist streets.
"People have more money in their pockets, their outlook has changed, disputes have become less frequent and ties between ethnic groups have grown closer," Yang said. His goal is for "every group to earn a living from tourism."
yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn
