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.