Dali , Guizhou ( CNN ) -- Wandering through this remote village nestled among ancient forests and bamboo groves in China 's poorest province , it 's easy to imagine that life here has changed little over the centuries . Along narrow pathways shaded by the tiled eaves of wooden houses , men deftly balance bamboo carrying poles laden with chillies grown in fields nearby , while women wearing traditional indigo shirts pound dirty laundry in the river . But change is coming to Dali , a village of 300 households in the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou . In January , the village , along with 20 others in the region , was added to a list of sites that China 's leaders believe should qualify for world heritage status -- a step that could put the tiny settlement on a par with The Great Wall or Egypt 's pyramids and transform it from a sleepy backwater to a tourist magnet . It 's a big opportunity for villagers like Shi Tao , a 25-year-old migrant worker , who is home for the birth of his first child . He 'd like to open a guesthouse to cater for the expected visitors . `` We 'll make more money if tourists come , '' he says , cradling his sleeping newborn . But for now he must leave his family and head back to the southern Chinese factory town where he makes electronic components for 3,000 yuan ( US $ 490 ) a month . Untouched charm . As rapid urbanization threatens much of China 's rural heritage , tourists will no doubt fall for Dali 's untouched charm . At its core is a pagoda-like structure known as a drum tower sitting in a square where villagers dry their crops on rectangles of tarpaulin . The river that winds through the village is crisscrossed by covered wooden bridges where village elders gather to smoke pipes and enjoy the breeze . The river also feeds an ancient water system with separate pools for washing vegetables and laundering clothes . Its poverty and far flung location mean that the three story houses are built from local timber , unaltered by modern construction materials , and in a traditional style unique to the region . `` It 's a classic example of mountain village architecture , '' said Wang Hongguan , the director of the Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage that is behind the world heritage bid . `` They warrant proper protection so I hope they can be inscribed as world heritage sites as soon as possible . '' A final decision is made by UNESCO , a U.N. body , which has to decide whether the site is of outstanding universal value . According to the state-run People 's Daily , in 2005 China had about 5,000 ancient villages like Dali but by June 2102 this number has decreased to less than 3,000 , swallowed up by China 's rapidly expanding cities or emptied as villagers leave in search of better prospects . It 's a trend that 's likely to continue as China 's leaders push urbanization as a solution to slowing economic growth . Tourism costs . Despite their enthusiasm , few of the villagers grasp what attaining world heritage status might involve given the advent of mass tourism in China . Tang Shoucheng , the village chief of Xijiang , a picturesque village four hours ' drive away , is well qualified to chronicle its highs and lows . Since the village was earmarked for tourist development in 2008 , incomes have surged , with 10,000 visitors a day clogging the narrow streets each day during peak season . Residents receive an 18 % share of the 100 yuan ( US $ 16 ) ticket fee to enter the village and the arrival of tourists has created new business opportunities that have enticed people back from factory jobs in more affluent regions . But Tang says that the economic benefits have been uneven . Villagers like him , who live on the hilltop away from the main commercial street , complain they make less money than those who have shop fronts and live closer to the main commercial street . Development has also taken its toll on traditional village life . Once the most important man in the village , Tang says the villagers do n't respect traditional relationships anymore . `` Now people only recognize money , '' he says . `` In the past , if you were from the same village , you would always help each other out . '' It 's a problem not unique to Xijiang . Chinese world heritage sites in Lijiang in the neighboring province of Yunnan and Pingyao in northern Shanxi province have seen locals move out and karaoke bars move in . `` Over-commercialization is a valid concern , '' said Wang , who decided to remove Xijiang from China 's tentative world heritage list because of the unbridled tourist development . `` The reason why these places failed is because of the desire for economic development -- culture has become a commodity and people approach it in a degrading way . '' Balance . It 's no easy task to balance a desire for economic development and heritage preservation , says Han Li , China director of the Global Heritage Fund , a U.S. NGO . It has partnered with the bureau of cultural heritage to evaluate Dali and come up with a management plan for the village that , if successful , would be adopted elsewhere in the province . The organization jumped at the opportunity to undertake planning and conservation work in Dali before tourists arrive in any significant numbers . Tourism at some of GHF 's other projects in China , where the organization was brought on board after the sites were awarded UNESCO status , was not well controlled , said Li . She is encouraged by the attitudes of local officials , who appear keen to make sure Dali does not turn into a tourist trap . `` Heritage sites can bring income and development . Our challenge is to find a way to manage this process in a way that does n't jeopardize the heritage and the traditional way of life , '' says Li . At a meeting in Dali 's schoolhouse , village elders , some wearing the faded Mao suits of China 's past , welcome the early plans for the village 's future -- a wider road , a commercial area for hotels and a museum , plus upgrades to their homes . Snacking on watermelon , few expressed doubts about the pending changes . `` We want to preserve our way of life but progress is important too , '' said Yang Zhou , who wants to find a way for his two children to grow up and stay in the village .
Remote village earmarked to become world heritage site . Locals welcome opportunity to improve livelihood . Score: 7 Fears traditional village life wo n't survive onslaught of mass tourism .