April 17 (Xinhua) — Exploring the "Three Gatherings and Three Together" co-construction model to jointly build a new model of rural revitalization in Bijie

"The blue sky awaits you, the white clouds await you, the blue sky and white clouds are waiting; the flowers bloom awaiting you, the green leaves await you, welcoming distinguished guests as you arrive." A Bai ethnic song "Welcoming Guests" instantly leaves a lasting impression of the beautiful scenery of Shangxiaohe Village, Lishu Town, Qixingguan District, Bijie City, Guizhou Province.

A reporter recently visited Shangxiaohe Village, Lishu Town, Qixingguan District, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. A gentle breeze brushed the face amid lush greenery; the picturesque scenery of layered green peaks and babbling streams complemented the residences with "landscape painting walls," allowing visitors here to see the mountains, view the water, and recall their nostalgia.

Shangxiaohe Village is located in the northwest of Lishu Town, Qixingguan District, 16 kilometers from the main urban area. Affected by many factors, Shangxiaohe Village was formerly a Category II poverty-stricken village. At that time, the village road was a muddy path, the villagers' houses were simple and dilapidated, and working elsewhere was one of the main sources of villagers' income.

Data show that in 2004, the annual per capita net income of Shangxiaohe Village was 865 yuan.

Long Jin, Party secretary of Shangxiaohe Village, recalled that at that time everything was difficult in Shangxiaohe Village—difficult to travel, difficult to find housing, difficult to see a doctor, difficult to find work, and difficult to become prosperous... "When I went to school as a child, it took about an hour and a half to walk each way. Back then, I could never have imagined today's happiness."

With the targeted assistance of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League and the joint efforts of officials and the masses, the happiness that villagers of Shangxiaohe Village once dared not imagine has gradually become reality.

Over the past nearly 20 years, the Central Committee of the China Democratic League and China Democratic League organizations at all levels have coordinated and integrated various funds to carry out comprehensive assistance to Shangxiaohe Village through three major projects: "Tongxin Intellectual Support," "Tongxin Livelihood Improvement," and "Tongxin Demonstration and Guidance," promoting infrastructure construction, Bai ethnic residence renovation, ecological environment improvement, and industrial pilot demonstrations. Shangxiaohe Village has transformed from a Category II poverty-stricken village into a moderately prosperous village. In 2023, the per capita net income of Shangxiaohe villagers is expected to reach 12,576 yuan.

"Our village has a forest coverage rate of 80% and beautiful natural landscapes. The village has a registered population of nearly 1,300, 80% of whom are Bai ethnic people, and it enjoys the reputation of 'Guizhou Bai Ethnic ** Village.' The sound ecological environment and rich ethnic cultural customs have laid a solid foundation for developing rural tourism," Long Jin said. The once quiet countryside is becoming lively; Shangxiaohe Village has taken on a new look, and villagers' sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security has generally increased. The village has also been awarded honorary titles such as "Guizhou Province's Most Charming Ethnic Village" and "Provincial-Level Civilized Village."

To support rural revitalization, the Central Committee of the China Democratic League and Tianhe District of Guangzhou have adhered to complementary advantages and coordinated interaction, using Shangxiaohe Village as a pilot to vigorously promote the group-based assistance model of "United Front + East-West Cooperation" and "Region + Field," and through "pooling wisdom to jointly discuss development plans and jointly draw the blueprint for rural revitalization," "pooling strength to promote rural construction and jointly create a beautiful and livable environment," and "pooling energy to develop characteristic industries and jointly build the cornerstone of common prosperity," working together to create a new model of Chinese-style modern rural revitalization and jointly build a beautiful, livable, and workable home where one can "see the mountains, view the water, and recall nostalgia."

Pan Fang, a third-level researcher in the Publicity Department of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League who is stationed in Shangxiaohe Village for assistance, told reporters that the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, China Democratic League organizations at all levels, and assistance officials from Tianhe District, Guangzhou, have conducted in-depth inspections and research in Shangxiaohe Village many times, identifying the direction for its development and prescribing targeted remedies. The Central Committee of the China Democratic League also actively coordinated experts from the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University to help Shangxiaohe Village enrich and improve its village planning and industrial development planning, and actively promoted the establishment of a "Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Student Practice Base" in Shangxiaohe Village.

The "Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Student Practice Base" has organized two winter and summer vacation practice sessions, with a total of 32 students from 13 universities, including Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, and Xinjiang University, coming to Shangxiaohe Village to carry out rural revitalization practice. They helped Shangxiaohe Village conduct field research and guidance in areas such as environmental protection, living environment improvement, and Bai ethnic cultural exploration, providing strong support for the village's development.

Pan Fang was happiest about the arrival of university teachers and students. "These are talented people that many places would invite in vain. In a limited time, through visits, research, and design, they have injected 'infinite possibilities' into the future development of Shangxiaohe Village."

Industrial prosperity is the cornerstone of rural revitalization. The China Democratic League and Tianhe District, Guangzhou, have pooled energy to develop industries such as sika deer breeding and mugwort planting and processing, jointly building the cornerstone of common prosperity in Shangxiaohe Village.

The China Democratic League and Tianhe District, Guangzhou, helped coordinate the introduction of a sika deer breeding project to land in Shangxiaohe Village, creating a comprehensive industry integrating sika deer breeding, deer product processing, sika deer sightseeing, and dining. At present, more than 200 sika deer have been bred, with an annual output value of more than 2.4 million yuan, and the breeding scale can reach more than 600 within three years.

Zhang Wei, the person in charge of the sika deer breeding project, had long worked in Fujian and other places. To give back to his hometown, he resolutely chose to return and start a business. "The whole sika deer is a treasure. In the future, we will deepen the industry, drive the integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, and realize the dream of common prosperity."

Zhang Wei told reporters that he once went to Tongzhou, Beijing, to work for free and learn sika deer breeding technology. Through cooperation with experts, he achieved sika deer breeding in southern China, hoping to use sika deer breeding as the core to drive rural industrial development and support rural revitalization.

The Song dynasty poet Wang Anshi's line "A stream protects the fields, winding around with green; two mountains push open the door and send in blue" is most fitting to describe today's Shangxiaohe Village.

Walking into Shangxiaohe Village, while enjoying the pastoral scenery of mountains and water, visitors can also listen to three Bai ethnic songs created with the help of China Democratic League members for the villagers of Shangxiaohe Village—"Welcoming Guests," "Three-Course Tea," and "Song of Staying Guests"—taste "Bai Family Forest Barbecue," "Bai Family Tea Brewing Around the Stove," and "Bai Family Long Table Banquet," and eat "a bowl of noodles," among other things.

Long Jin, who has a "small wish," said he hopes that with the help and assistance of various parties, Shangxiaohe Village's industries will flourish and its tourism will thrive, making city dwellers envious of village life.