China has discovered that centuries-old villages are a tourism gold mine. So it is building them all over the country

China is building more history-inspired villages and theme parks to attract tourists.

The strategy, known as fanggu, recreates traditional architecture and local cultural settings as immersive destinations.

Examples include Gubei Water Town, Datang Everbright, Kashgar Old City, and Unique Henan: Land of Dramas.

These sites make China’s heritage and folklore more accessible while expanding tourism options for domestic and foreign visitors.