Nanji Village, at the southernmost tip of the Chinese mainland in Jiaowei Township, Xuwen County, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, was once a remote, little-visited fishing village. Today, it has been revitalized by homestay operators—former urban designers, advertisers, and white-collar workers—who use homestays to bring literary and creative energy to the area.
Lian Jun, operator of the Artists Tribe, is a homestay pioneer in Nanji Village. Over the past decade, he has transformed abandoned coral houses with local materials like bougainvillea and shells, turning the homestay into a cultural hub hosting poetry sessions and art exhibitions—quietly bringing art, vitality, and change to the village.
Tan Wenzheng, who returned from Guangzhou, created a homestay café blending cultural and creative elements. Using Xuwen's aged salt in drinks and designing local cultural products, he showcases Nanji Village's unique charm. His project, "Dreams North, Life South," reflects his life back home.
Lin Guorun, a local homestay operator, offers an experiential model, guiding guests across tidal flats at low tide, sharing local stories and products, and providing an immersive fishing-village experience.
Rooted in the countryside, these homestay operators have turned the southernmost village into a place that preserves rural culture while realizing the dreams of outsiders.
Author | Chen Mingwei
Photo | Chen Mingwei, Chen Huan
