Commercial street opens new path for relocated people

The busy night commercial street in Dahong town in Dahua Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by China Daily]

Stepping into the busy night commercial street in Dahong town in Dahua Yao autonomous county in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a group of young people dressed in colorful Yao ethnic costumes perform songs for tourists.

Yao people in Dahong town dance with tourists. [Photo by China Daily]

They are members of a local art troupe comprised of about 36 performers. They used to live scattered in the mountains, but now they have moved to a residential area in the county and become new productive members of the society through employment and entrepreneurship.

They come together as a troupe and perform dances of Yao people in spare time to earn extra money.

They live in Gujiang community, a relocation area in the county for poor households. In recent years, about 10,000 poor people have been relocated from villages located deep in the mountains where life, including transportation, was difficult.

Yao people perform for guests. [Photo by China Daily]

Next to the relocation site is the commercial street, which has been designed to help the displaced people start their own businesses and find jobs. It focuses on food and folk culture. When night falls, the street bustles with people.

Dahong, the name of the commercial street, means hope for good life in local culture.

Tan Qingmei, a local resident, runs a stall on the commercial street selling fried cake. [Photo by China Daily]

Tan Qingmei, who moved to the place in 2018, set up a stall on the commercial street this year to sell fried cake at night, a specialty from her hometown.

"I used to work in a factory in Guangdong province and able to return home twice a year, but now I can live in my own home and have a business for living," she said.