Beauty in Yongchun, 【 Great Country New Village: Following the Footprints of General Secretary 】 Organization Department of Fuman "Taoyuan" County Party Committee | Rural | General Secretary

The nation must be revitalized, and the countryside must be revitalized.

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that "the most arduous and arduous task of comprehensively building a socialist modernized country still lies in rural areas. We will prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, adhere to the integration of urban and rural development, and facilitate the flow of urban and rural factors. We will accelerate the construction of an agricultural strong country and solidly promote the revitalization of rural industries, talents, culture, ecology, and organizations." The People's Forum website has launched a series of reports on "New Villages in a Great Country: Following the Footprints of General Secretary", telling the story of the revitalization of the vast rural areas of China. Today, the research team of the People's Forum takes you into Yongchun County, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, formerly known as the "Peach Blossom Land". You can visit Meiling and Dayu, listen to the villagers talk about the construction changes in your hometown over the years, and feel the ecological beauty, cultural beauty, and industrial beauty of the countryside.

Yongchun, located in the upper reaches of the Jinjiang River, is known as the fragrant capital of China and the hometown of Chinese citrus. In recent years, Yongchun County has closely focused on the overall goals, policies, and requirements of implementing the rural revitalization strategy, tailored to local conditions, finely planned, and combined with the actual development of rural construction and the different characteristics of the village to create a beautiful new countryside, continuously improving the happiness and sense of achievement of villagers, and building a new pattern of rural development in which people and nature coexist harmoniously.

Seize opportunities and create a new chapter in the "Meiling Spirit"

Meiling, formerly known as "Weiling", is located at the western foot of Lianhua Mountain, at the junction of Yongchun and Anxi. It covers an area of only 5 square kilometers and is a small mountain village with mountains on all sides and no third of the land. Due to its poverty, it has been widely circulated that it is better to eat salty bamboo shoots than to marry people from Weiling.

The mountain road is winding, with continuous peaks.

In May 1996, Comrade Xi Jinping, then deputy secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee, visited Meiling Village, Yidu Town, Yongchun County, Quanzhou City, and wrote an inscription for the book "Meiling Spring Tide" "Learn the spirit of Meiling and speed up the pace of poverty alleviation and a well-off society".

For over 20 years, under the leadership of the Party organization, the people of Meiling have kept in mind their instructions, strengthened the organization, developed industries, provided education, gathered talents, and optimized the ecology. Nowadays, Meiling Village has more than 10 backbone enterprises, with a tax payment of 146 million yuan in 2021, ranking first in Yongchun County in terms of total tax payment for consecutive years.

In 2021, the per capita disposable income of villagers in Meiling Village reached 78500 yuan. The size of the middle-income group continues to expand, with over 50% of households having an annual disposable income of 100000 to 500000 yuan, and 40% having an annual disposable income of 200000 to 600000 yuan. The gap between residents' income and living standards is gradually narrowing.

"In recent years, there have been earth shattering changes. In the past, I couldn't even think about it." Su Zhongxian, the former village committee director at the age of 70, recalled the past with countless emotions.

As early as the 1980s, Su Xintian, who started his timber business, resolutely returned to Meiling and used his hard-earned savings of 40000 to 50000 yuan to lead the villagers in building power stations, repairing roads, and running factories. He embarked on a three step strategy of "lighting the lights for poverty alleviation, building roads for prosperity, and developing factories".

From the first light on to the completion of three village level small factories, Meiling Village broke free from its cocoon and was reborn from the fire. With its open mountain gate, it welcomed a surging economic tide from all directions. Through diversified development in recent years, Meiling people who dare to fight and win have seized opportunities, united and worked hard, and developed Meiling Village into a well-known wealthy village.

"One person's wealth is not true wealth, only when the people are all rich is true wealth." Su Yonggang, Secretary of the Meiling Village Party Committee, introduced that on the basis of accelerating economic development, the Meiling Village Party Committee has always adhered to people-oriented principles and made every effort to help villagers truly live a comfortable life.

Unify the planning of scattered villagers living on the mountains to live in the center of the village, achieving a place to live; Establishing Meiling Middle School, which integrates kindergarten and high school, to achieve education for young children; Build Meiling Health Center, allocate 300000 medical subsidies annually, and achieve medical treatment for patients; Provide a monthly pension of 1000 to 2000 yuan per person for elderly people aged 60 and above, achieving a sense of security for the elderly

One heartwarming measure after another, mapping the temperature of people's livelihoods; One reform dividend after another, turned into a vivid picture. Meiling has developed, the villagers have become prosperous, and it has also gathered popularity for Meiling.

"I am from another town and a second year student at Meiling High School." After graduating from university, Kang Binfeng, who chose to return to teach, was deeply touched. The establishment of Meiling Middle School has not only become the greatest welfare for students in the surrounding mountainous areas, but also a talent pool for rural revitalization in Meiling. In recent years, more and more students from Meiling have returned to their hometowns to start businesses or support their hometowns, silently contributing to the rural revitalization of Meiling.

Full view of Meiling Middle School provided by the Organization Department of Yongchun County Committee

From the beginning of the timber factory, plywood factory, cardboard factory, cement factory, to the village collective enterprise Meiling Group, which covers multiple industrial chains such as cement, electricity, tourism, education, and has assets of more than 3 billion yuan, every step of development and leap forward has made the path of Meiling wider and wider.

Nowadays, Meiling Village has become a "star village" on the land of Fujian, attracting visitors, scholars, and learners.

From poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, walking on the grand road of progress, the people of Meiling are full of confidence and hope.

Tailored to local conditions, perfect combination of cultural resources and rural construction

At the foot of Dapeng Mountain, the Crane Fist is majestic.

In June 2002, when Comrade Xi Jinping, then governor of Fujian Province, went to Dayu Village to investigate, he pointed out that "the construction of the new village should be adapted to local conditions and have its own characteristics, and it would be better if the Baihequan culture could be combined."

The earnest instructions are deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people of Dayu.

Dayu Village, located on Dapeng Mountain in the northwest of Wulijie Town, Yongchun County, is the birthplace of the famous Yongchun White Crane Fist.

"The white crane spreads its wings, creating eternal spring in the world" and "The white crane fist of Yongchun, even without burning, can pull the Lun"... Upon arriving at Dayu Village, the unique traditional houses of Minnan and the connected landscape walls of the white crane fist are refreshing. In the lush and colorful time, it emits a strong historical and cultural atmosphere.

Provided by the Organization Department of the Yongchun County Committee of the China Yongchun White Crane Fist History Museum

"Almost all the men, women, and children in our village can play Baihe Fist." At the Yongchun Baihe Fist History Museum in China, Zhou Jinsheng, a representative inheritor of Quanzhou's intangible cultural heritage Baihe Fist, improvised and showcased his martial arts skills, with each move flowing smoothly and each punch and foot being powerful, winning applause from the audience.

In recent years, Dayu Village has cleverly played the cultural card of White Crane Fist in the construction of beautiful rural areas, guided by "Party building, cultural strength, ecological support, and industrial prosperity", and has transformed the unknown Shangou Village into a famous tourist village with "visible mountains, visible water, and remembering homesickness".

In 2008, the Five Ancestors Boxing, consisting of Yongchun White Crane Boxing and other boxing styles, was included in the national intangible cultural heritage representative list and became a treasure of Chinese martial arts culture.

Since 2009, Yongchun County has held the White Crane Fist Culture Festival every year, creating a platform for cultural exchange with martial arts enthusiasts from all over the world. Since 2010, Yongchun has been promoting the Yongchun White Crane Fist in primary and secondary schools throughout the county. Through physical education classes, morning exercises, or break time exercises, Yongchun White Crane Fist has been widely popularized on campus.

Now, what makes Zhou Jinsheng proud is that Bai He Quan has gone abroad and spread to more than 80 countries and regions around the world, becoming one of the most widely spread traditional folk martial arts.

"Revitalizing local culture is not achieved overnight and requires long-term efforts." As a inheritor of White Crane Fist, Zhou Jinsheng, who has been practicing martial arts for more than 40 years, remains steadfast in his original intention. He hopes to help rural revitalization through his own efforts and make more people like White Crane Fist and Dayu.

Only through the germination of spring can summer flourish. Dayu Village leverages the rural economy with cultural industries and assists in comprehensive revitalization with rural economy. It has successively won honors such as National Livable Village, Chinese Characteristic Village, Chinese Rural Tourism Model Village, and Quanzhou Beautiful Village.

The unique development positioning of the village has revitalized the rural landscape, improved the environment, attracted more and more tourists, and the business in the store has become increasingly prosperous. These happy changes have made Gu Yanping, the owner of the Hidden Feather Homestay, confident in her future development. The Hidden Feather Homestay with the theme of "White Crane Fist" faces the Yanwu Square, where you can overlook Yongchun County. It has become a good place for camping, tea making, and team building activities. Gu Yanping said that during this year's May Day holiday, the number of tourists greatly exceeded previous years.

The environment is people's livelihood, the green mountains are beautiful, and the blue sky is also happiness. Dayu Village boasts picturesque mountains and rivers, abundant vegetation, and abundant specialty agricultural products such as loquat, citrus, sweet orange, honey, and hemp shoots. The original ecological environment is delicious and delicious.

At the home of villager Huang Jinqi, the freshly cooked loquat paste is crystal clear and sweet. When it comes to income, Huang Jinqi bluntly said, "In a year, we can make about 100 pots. After deducting costs, the profit from loquat paste can reach over 100000 yuan."

Full view of Dayu Village, Wulijie Town, Yongchun County, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province Provided by the Organization Department of the Yongchun County Committee

Green mountains and water enhance well-being, and beautiful countryside is more livable.

Standing at a new starting point, the stage becomes broader. Next, Yongchun County will deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, fully implement the deployment of central, provincial, and municipal rural revitalization work, combine with the action of "deep learning and excellence, daring to be the first, and practical work and efficiency", integrate the concept of green development into all aspects and processes of rural revitalization, continuously promote rural revitalization work to be at the forefront of the province, set a model, and contribute Yongchun's strength to promoting agricultural and rural modernization.