The "long-table banquet" is a tradition of Miao ethnic group with thousands of people dining on the street to mark a festival. [Photo Provided to China Daily]

Duan Qiang, chairman of the World Tourism Alliance, says this is partly thanks to the province's efforts focusing on its tourism industry. "The integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism has greatly contributed to Guizhou's poverty alleviation work," Duan says.

China Tourism News recently introduced 12 intangible cultural heritage tourist routes selected by experts and scholars from more than 160 routes submitted from across the country. The aim was to get tourism corporations to work more closely with intangible cultural heritage institutions, and enrich tourism offerings in the market. Among the 12 recommended routes, one of them is located in Guizhou.

In regions like Danzhai in Guizhou, intangible cultural heritage becomes an integrated experience for visitors and an essential way for locals to make a living.

Danzhai Wanda village is 145 kilometers from Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport. It is a major project started by the Wanda Group to help the county shake off poverty. The county managed to achieve this goal last year.