Warm welcome

Kazanqi Folk Tourism District’s main attraction is obvious to anyone taking a stroll along its main street. Traditional Uygur houses, with columned porticos, large wooden doors and elaborate window shutters, are perfect settings for photographers. Elderly Uygurs sitting on benches nearby, welcome visitors to look at their charming inner courtyards.

Among them is 54-year-old Asiyam Iz. Her blue and white house - symbolizing heaven and purity, according to Uygur tradition - gleams in the sun. Built almost a century ago, her home has housed three generations of her family, and now welcomes visitors from all over the world with cakes and milk tea. Tourists can take shelter from the heat on cushions under the grapevine in the courtyard.

For Iz, the arrival of tourists has brought muchneeded change to her life. In the past, her house was poorly maintained and threatened to collapse. The same was true for the whole neighborhood. “Before, we had only a dirt road. It was dusty under the sun and muddy in the rain. Now things are much better,” she told Chinafrica.

In 2006, the local administration began to regenerate this historic place, equipping century-old houses with all the necessary amenities and providing modern facilities such as running water, street lighting and paved roads. In total, 114 million yuan ($17 million) was invested to turn the neighborhood into a first-class tourist area. A few years later, the revitalized place has grown in popularity and now attracts scores of visitors.

In addition, families whose houses are open to visitors receive a portion of the ticket sales revenue. Their share of revenue rises with the popularity of their houses. Therefore, Iz now receives more than 2,000 yuan (about $300) per month in the peak season. “I am now financially independent,” she said.

According to Yining City Tourism Administration,