Mengjinglai and Longli are two thriving villages near the border with Myanmar in China's Yunnan Province. Known as the "first village on the China-Myanmar border," Mengjinglai has a thousand years of Dai heritage, including traditional architecture and intangible cultural crafts such as papermaking and pottery. It draws on its cultural and tourism resources to help residents increase their income. Longli village sits close to the border and has developed distinctive industries such as rubber and dragon fruit alongside border-themed folk tourism.

Rooted at the frontier, the two villages bring people of all ethnic groups together. By harnessing culture and tourism and growing local industries, they offer a vivid picture of ethnic unity and peaceful and prosperous lives. Photos: Li Hao/Global Times