NPC deputy unveils ethnic revival at national two sessions

The "Village Horse" races take place in Sandu, attracting visitors from across the country. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) from Southwest China's Guizhou province embarked on a flight to Beijing on March 3.

They are attending the upcoming national two sessions to deliberate on state affairs, propose strategies for national development, and advocate for local progress.

Among the delegation, a subtle detail on NPC deputy Yang Kai's briefcase drew attention. Yang, head of Sandu county, carried a palm-sized horse figurine featuring the meticulous horse tail embroidery of the Sui ethnic group. Though small, it carries profound cultural significance.

Sandu has utilized its dual strengths of ecological resources and ethnic culture in recent years. Anchored to the integrated goals of industrial revitalization, county prosperity, and citizen enrichment, it has steadily advanced high-quality development across various sectors. In 2025, the county's GDP grew by 5.3 percent. Today, pathways to prosperity are widening, and residents' lives are flourishing.

This transformative breakthrough owes much to Guizhou "Village Horse", a cultural-tourism phenomenon born from the Sui ethnic horse-racing tradition. Since 2025, the county has hosted ‌65 racing events‌, attracting ‌1,962 horses‌ and ‌1,436 riders‌ nationwide. This drew ‌6.22 million tourists‌ in 2025 alone, generating ‌6.1 billion‌ yuan ($881.79 million) in tourism revenue.

Concurrently, partnerships with universities have catalyzed the creative transformation of local intangible heritage. Over ‌200 cultural products‌ featuring Sui embroidery techniques have been developed. These products now reach global markets like France and Dubai, empowering more than ‌30,000 female embroiderers‌ with home-based employment and income at their fingertips.