Jincheng, a city in Shanxi province renowned for its ancient architecture, has pioneered a way to revitalize traditional villages by focusing on protection, cultural tourism, and significant projects. This approach aims to breathe new life into these historic sites.

The city promotes traditional village tourism by integrating cultural, agricultural, and wellness travel. As part of the "Hundred Villages, Hundred Courtyards" initiative, Jincheng has developed 83 wellness-themed villages and 50 wellness courtyards, with full completion expected by the end of the year.

Significant projects play a crucial role in this model of revitalization. The city has launched demonstration projects for the concentrated protection and utilization of traditional villages, selecting 50 villages with unique characteristics and strong development potential. These projects, with a total investment of 1.96 billion yuan ($275.15 million), serve as models for future efforts.

Digital protection is another key focus. Jincheng is a frontrunner in using digital and information technologies, achieving full coverage of digital museums for 186 traditional Chinese villages. Efforts are underway to establish a permanent information archive database, with comprehensive mapping of ancient buildings in 40 historical towns and villages, creating a complete digital historical archive system.

The city is also exploring unique models by combining traditional village protection with rural vitalization. This involves demonstration guidance, regional collaboration, and a model where the government leads, village collectives provide platforms, and State-owned enterprises manage operations, charting a sustainable development path that combines protection, revitalization, and utilization effectively.