Qingzhen's countryside cafe creates 'third space' for urban visitors

Since its opening, the Meng'an Xishe Cafe in You'er village, Qingzhen city, has quickly become a hotspot, with daily sales exceeding 300 cups and visitor numbers reaching over 5,000 per day.

"The success of Meng'an Xishe lies in its precise catering to urbanites' craving for a 'third space'," said Wang Qingneng, the cafe's manager. The venue offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life while surpassing the traditional countryside experience. Nestled among picturesque lakes and mountains, the cafe seamlessly blends natural charm with the comforts of modern living.

The Meng'an Xishe Cafe is located by the lakeside. [Photo/WeChat account of Shuangshuang Guiyang, Hucheng Qingzhen]

This trend signifies a significant upgrade in rural tourism consumption. Visitors are no longer settling for basic sightseeing and consumption; they seek deeper cultural immersion and higher-quality experiences. Meng'an Xishe meets this demand by combining the old buildings with modern design aesthetics, satisfying the desire for a "new aesthetic" rural experience.

To sustain the village cafe boom, Qingzhen plans to further explore local flavor treasures. This includes developing creative coffee blends inspired by local products like prickly pear, specialty teas, and traditional Chinese herbs. The city aims to incorporate ethnic aesthetics from the Bouyei and Miao cultures into their space designs, turning every beverage and cafe into a cultural ambassador of local charm.

Qingzhen is also committed to attracting and training local youth to help with cafe operations, product innovation, and service enhancement. By establishing a fair benefit-sharing mechanism, the city aims to ensure that the development dividends truly benefit the villagers.