Beijing – October 13, 2026 -- The second season of the reality show "From Far Lands to China's Farmlands" has drawn 420 million online views, putting Xiangfeng Village in Changsha County, Hunan Province, at the center of a "courtyard economy" push for rural cultural tourism.
Seven foreign youths from six countries film in Xiangfeng Village
The show placed seven young people from six countries, including the United States, Germany and Malaysia, in the village as "new farmers". They worked alongside local villagers and took part in courtyard-centered rural tourism activities.
Activities included herbal hot pot and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experiences. Visitors could also buy oven-baked bread and specialty coffee in the village.
Idle rural houses become international-style spaces
Xiangfeng Village is converting idle rural houses into spaces in popular international styles. The model builds on the "country walk" trend, which became a topic abroad earlier this year and is gaining popularity among inbound tourists to China.
Young people from Malaysia and Georgia decide to settle in the village
Two of the young participants, from Malaysia and Georgia, decided to settle in Xiangfeng Village formally. Changsha County is using the small courtyards to create new rural consumption scenarios. It also uses them as platforms to present Chinese-style rural micro-vacations to international audiences.