Tangya Tusi City, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central China’s Hubei Province, is reinventing itself as a vibrant cultural destination. Known for the Tusi Ladies, seal-holding matriarchs of ancient southwest China, the site struggled for years to turn global recognition into lasting economic growth.

In 2025, an immersive tourism project transformed the quiet ruins into what young visitors call the “Tusi Lady Dream Factory”, allowing people to dress as and live in the role of a Tusi Lady. “They take you to every heritage spot, tell you the cultural and historical stories behind them, and let you truly recreate and step into the scenes of that era,” said tourist Shen Yihui.

The project also offers cultural study tours and workshops in Tujia embroidery, silver forging, and folk dance, deepening visitors’ connection to the heritage. 

Source: China Central Television