The 2025 Ford CEGC Grants Recipient List is Officially Announced

The 2025 CEGC culminated in its final review meeting and a Cross-Boundary Inspiration Workshop, held in Cenbu Village, Qingpu District, Shanghai on December 8^th - 9^th. After five months of multi-stage evaluation, 15 shortlisted ecotourism projects from across China gathered for the final presentations. Following deliberations, ten projects were selected as this year's grant recipients.

Present certificates to representatives of award-winning projects

Since comprehensively shifting its focus to the ecotourism sector in 2024, CEGC has continued to deepen its commitment to sustainable rural development. In May of this year, the annual CEGC project received 118 valid applications from across the country. This year’s applicant pool has grown more diverse, with high-quality new participants from fields such as outdoor sports, science education, and rural development actively taking part. This reflects the growing role of ecotourism as a key pathway for cross-sector collaboration and a driver of rural revitalization.

Molly Yang stated: "Remaining true to Ford’s vision of ‘Build a Better World,’ we continue to evolve and explore effective ways in which ecotourism can contribute to rural community development. In the future, Ford China will not only continue to fund and empower grassroots practitioners, but also actively engage Ford owners and the wider public—inviting them to learn about, experience, and take part in ecotourism. Our goal is to make ecotourism a widely embraced way of life, and to work together toward prosperous and sustainable rural communities, advancing a future where people and nature thrive in harmony."

Review experts observed: "A growing number of outstanding teams are bringing professional expertise from their respective fields into ecotourism and applying for CEGC. This reflects the award’s clear positioning and forward-looking direction, which are providing positive guidance to the industry. We look forward to seeing such cross-sector integration drive innovation and promote sustainable practices in the future."

The Cross-Boundary Inspiration Workshop, held alongside the final review meeting, focused on two core themes: “Ecotourism and Destination Discovery” and “Immersive Exploration of Local Culture.” Through cross-sector dialogues and case-study discussions, the workshop provided shortlisted projects with new operational insights and approaches.

It brought together four multidisciplinary experts—from fields such as tourism branding and art curation—alongside representatives from past award-winning organizations, facilitating collaborative exchanges and broadening perspectives. Additionally, to improve the operational safety of ecotourism projects, a dedicated session on safety and risk management was included, strengthening participants’ awareness and capacity in risk prevention and emergency response.

To help villages endowed with natural resources realize the value of “lucid waters and lush mountains” through ecotourism, Ford expanded its public engagement in 2025 beyond evaluation and funding. By collaborating with influential travel and culture content creators, the initiative produced in-depth content featuring five representative award-winning projects. This effort generated over 10 thematic videos and two on-site livestreamings, accumulating more than 10 million views online. These actions have significantly raised public awareness of exemplary ecotourism destinations and enhanced the attractiveness of rural communities.

According to preliminary estimates, the projects supported by CEGC 2025 have to date generated over 3.6 million RMB in direct and indirect income for local communities and created more than 220 local jobs. Enhancement plans for these ten selected projects will be rolled out starting in 2026. Moving forward, CEGC will continue to offer multi-dimensional support through funding, capacity building, resource linkage, and communication enablement, advancing ecotourism as a key driver of rural revitalization and ecological civilization.

Cross-Boundary Inspiration Workshop