Global designers and architects have been invited to help convert traditional cave dwellings in north China's mountainous region into stylish homestay inns as part of the nation's "rural vitalization" campaign.

An international design competition was launched in Shanghai on Friday to solicit wisdom from domestic and overseas design colleges, architecture designers and companies.

The Low Carbon Inn Design Competition was initiated by multiple Chinese universities, including Shanghai's Tongji, Jiao Tong and Donghua universities as well as Tsinghua and Chinese Academy of Art.