Yucun village of Zhejiang province and Xidi village of Anhui province were named among the best tourism villages by the World Tourism Organization, or UNWTO, on Dec 2.

A total of 44 villages from 32 countries were granted the recognition this year. All of them stood out for their natural and cultural resources as well as their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the development of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, according to UNWTO.

These villages were recognized as committed to making tourism a strong driver of their development and wellbeing.

The list was launched to advance the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities.

The two Chinese villages have been popular rural getaway destinations among travelers over the years.