The importance of the local economy of the development of tourism resources in China’s relatively under-developed minority areas is already common knowledge in academic and business circles. However, it’s necessary to research more on specif ic patterns of tourism development in these ethnic minority areas. This paper studies Wulong Stockade in Beichuan County in Sichuan Province and examines the distinctive experience of the local Qiang com-munity about developing local tourism resources and the local funding of the development. It notes how the introduc-tion of new re-afforestation laws of 1999 affected the traditional, agriculture-based economy and how a member of the community was a key motivator in initiating tourism as a new economic resource. It has also explored changes in the economic conditions of Qiang peasants since tourism began in Wulong Stockade, where local incomes have increased considerably. This paper focuses on a characteristic Qiang area in the mountains of western Sichuan, demonstrates the necessity and feasibility of community tourism development, and suggests that other ethnic minor-ity mountain villages in rural areas draw lessons from Wulong Stockade’s experience. The importance of the local economy of the development of tourism resources in China’s relatively under-developed minority areas is already common knowledge in academic and business circles. However, it’s necessary to research more on specif ic patterns of tourism development in these ethnic minority areas. This paper studies Wulong Stockade in Beichuan County in Sichuan Province and examines the distinctive experience of the local Qiang com-munity about developing local tourism resources and the local funding of the development. It notes how the introduc-tion of new re-afforestation laws of 1999 affected the traditional, agriculture-based economy and how a member of the community was a key motivator in initiating tourism as a new economic resource. It has also explored changes in the economic conditions of Qiang peasants since tourism began in Wulong Stockade, where local incomes have increased considerably. This paper focuses on a characteristic Qiang area in the mountains of western Sichuan, demonstrates the necessity and feasibility of community tourism development, and suggests that the other ethnic minor-ity mountain villages in rural areas draw lessons from Wulong Stockade’s experience.