Young tech-savvy remote workers vitalize villages

KUNMING — In the village of Dazhifang, at the foot of the Cangshan Mountain in Dali, Yunnan province, the aroma of coffee drifts through the courtyard of a homestay called Black Persimmon.

Teng Yan is typing away in the communal area, reveling in the perks of a commute-free remote-work lifestyle. "A month's rent in Beijing can get me a place in Dali to live in for over half a year," Teng says, adding that he appreciates the value and tranquility of his new way of life.

Teng is a typical modern-day nomad — or what most people call a digital nomad. Sick of four years of his nine-to-five job routine as a programmer, he boarded a flight to Dali in 2022 with his expertise and a laptop.

"Although the company I work for is registered in Beijing, my colleagues are everywhere, in Tokyo, Japan, and Chiang Mai in Thailand," he says. Each Sunday, he convenes a virtual gathering with his colleagues to strategize the week's agenda, and for the remainder of the week, they act on their own.

While remote working in Dali, Teng frequently travels elsewhere in search of inspiration, leaving footprints in the likes of Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan. "As digital nomads, we enjoy the freedom to work from any locale with an internet connection, and the mobility afforded by transportation networks enhances our flexibility," he adds.

Since the 1980s, it has been common for people in remote rural areas to move to big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in search of work. However, in recent years, the young generation has begun to move against the current, flocking to the vast rural area to set up home.

This reverse migration is backed by sound infrastructure, an extensive and interconnected modern transportation system and advanced digital technology.

The nomadic lifestyle is taking root not only in Dali, but also in many other rural locations in southwestern China. Over the past few years, Renli village in the Sichuan Basin has welcomed a number of new young residents.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021, Ke Yu returned to China in 2023 and began looking for a place to establish a digital nomad community. While browsing online, a photo of a sightseeing platform in Renli village caught her attention.

From the bird's-eye view, the spiral design of the platform resembled a lollipop. "I didn't expect that in such an inconspicuous village, there would be such distinctive architecture, where the rural atmosphere and modern design are cleverly integrated," Ke says.

In early January, Ke decided to settle in the village after liaising with the authorities.

"Not far from the platform there were already three finished buildings. With just a little modification, they could be turned into a community comprising spaces for offices, accommodation, dining, entertainment and social functions," she says.

Renli village's proximity to the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, which is only a 20-minute drive away, is a significant advantage in luring more digital nomads, she adds.

In April this year, the international digital nomad community in Renli village officially began operations, and within half a year, over 380 digital nomads have settled there. One of them is Choo Ho-jin from the Republic of Korea. Coming with a "why not give it a try "perspective, he soon decided to stay, signing a 10-year agreement with the community operators.

Digital nomads are known for a travel-based lifestyle, and those coming to Southwest China were initially drawn to the region's natural beauty and lower living costs. However, their arrival has introduced not only a fresh way of living but also a subtle transformation of the local landscape.

"The digital nomads are very talented. Some of them are market-savvy. Some are tech experts or marketing wizards," Teng says. "Even though we're in the countryside, we're still aware of the latest information in the metropolises. If we have good ideas or projects, we can gather a few like-minded individuals and bring them to life."

Longshan village near the city of Anning, 35 kilometers from the main urban area of Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan, was once populated mostly by elderly people. With the development of rural tourism, however, it has also become a popular destination for digital nomads. To date, it has hosted 86 digital nomads from more than 10 countries and regions, including India, Pakistan and Russia.

Li Erniu, the founder of a technology company, came to Longshan village in August this year to work remotely while preparing for a marathon. During his daily jogs, Li discovered that the villagers were struggling to sell their walnuts. He stepped in to assist with his marketing talent and soon sold 1,000 kilograms of nuts online.

More and more digital nomads are coming to Longshan village, giving a new look to this once obscure, underdeveloped spot. Now, the village boasts a cafe, open-air rest areas, leisure facilities and cozy office spaces.

While digital nomads relish the beautiful scenery and low-cost living, villagers also enjoy a better life through thriving tourism.