Tech-savvy remote workers revitalize China's rural villages

Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2017 shows the scenery of Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

KUNMING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- In the village of Dazhifang, at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, the aroma of coffee drifts through the courtyard of a homestay called "Black Persimmon."

Teng Yan is typing away in the homestay's communal area, reveling in the perks of a commute-free remote-work lifestyle. "A month's rent in Beijing can get me a place in Dali to live in for over half a year," Teng said, savoring the value and tranquility of his new way of life.

Teng is a typical modern-day nomad -- or what most people call a digital nomad. Sick of four years of the nine-to-five job routine as a programmer, he boarded a flight to Dali in 2022 with his expertise and a laptop.

"Although the company I work for is registered in Beijing, my colleagues are everywhere, in Tokyo, Japan and Chiang Mai, Thailand," he said. Each Sunday, Teng convenes a virtual gathering with his colleagues to strategize the week's agenda, and for the remainder of the week, they just act on their own.

While remote working in Dali, Teng frequently travels elsewhere in search of inspiration, with his footprints reaching countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan. "As digital nomads, we enjoy the freedom to work from any locale with an internet connection, and the ease of mobility afforded by the transportation network further enhances our flexibility," he added.

Since the 1980s, it was common for people in remote rural areas to move to big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in search of work. However, in recent years, the young generation has begun to move against the current, flocking to the vast rural areas to set up home.

This "reverse migration" is backed by sound infrastructure, an extensive and interconnected modern transportation system, and advanced digital technology.

The nomadic lifestyle is taking root not only in Dali, but also in many other rural locations in southwestern China. Over the past few years, Renli Village in the Sichuan Basin has greeted a number of new young residents.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021, Ke Yu returned to China in 2023 and began looking for a place to establish a digital nomad community. While browsing online, a photo of a sightseeing platform in Renli Village drew her attention.

From a bird's-eye view, the spiral circular design of the platform resembled a lollipop. "I didn't expect that in such an inconspicuous village, there would be such distinctive architecture, where the rural atmosphere and modern design are cleverly integrated," Ke recalled.

From the end of 2023 to early January 2024, after liaising with the relevant authorities, Ke further made up her mind to settle in the village.

"Not far from the platform there were already three finished buildings. With just a little modification, the area could be turned into a community comprising spaces for offices, accommodation, dining, entertainment, and social functions," she said.

Renli Village's proximity to Tianfu airport, which is only a 20-minute drive away, is a significant advantage in luring more digital nomads, she added.

In April this year, the DNβ international digital nomad community in Renli Village officially began operations, and within half a year, over 380 digital nomads have settled there. One of them is Choo Ho Jin from the Republic of Korea. Coming with a "why not give it a try" perspective, he soon decided to stay, signing a 10-year agreement with the community operators.

Digital nomads are known for a travel-base lifestyle, and those coming to southwest China were initially drawn to the region's natural beauty and lower living costs. However, their arrival has introduced not only a fresh way of living but also a subtle transformation of the local landscape.

"The digital nomads are very talented, some of them are market-savvy, some are tech experts or marketing wizards," Teng said. "Even though we're in the countryside, we're still aware of the latest information in the metropolises. If we have good ideas or projects, we can gather a few like-minded individuals and bring them to life."

Longshan Village in the city of Anning, 35 km from the main urban area of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province, was once populated mostly by elderly people. With the development of rural tourism, however, it has also become a popular destination for digital nomads. To date, it has hosted 86 digital nomads from more than 10 countries and regions, including India, Pakistan and Russia.

Li Erniu, the founder of a technology company, came to Longshan Village in August this year to work remotely while preparing for a marathon. During his daily jogs, Li discovered that the villagers were struggling to sell their walnuts. He stepped in to assist with his marketing talent and soon sold 1,000 kg of nuts online.

Now more and more digital nomads are coming to Longshan Village, giving a new look to this once obscure, underdeveloped spot. Now, the village boasts a cafe, open-air rest areas, leisure facilities, and cozy office spaces.

While digital nomads are relishing the beautiful scenery and low-cost living, local villagers, are also enjoying a better life through the thriving tourism industry.