A field class of rural revitalization in Hangzhou

Seeing is believing. It's quite memorable and educational to go on field trips and learn things outside of textbooks and classrooms. Great changes have taken place since I was born, and modern countryside has sprung up all across China. On April 23, I, along with my classmates, visited Xiajiang village in Chun'an prefecture, Hangzhou, on a field study to learn in-depth how rural revitalization works, especially in Zhejiang Province, as the national pilot of common prosperity.

Despite three hours on the road, none of us felt exhausted when we first saw Xiajiang village, which resembled a landscape painting. The mountain tops wreathed in mist made the place feel like a wonderland. We talked with the former CPC secretary of the village, who has been living here for over fifty years. Dating back to the 1970s, when there was no consciousness of environmental protection, open-air toilets were prevalent in the poverty-stricken village. Garbage and livestock feces were randomly discarded in the river, causing widespread infectious diseases during the summer. However, the face of the village started to change when the government realized the ecological value in development. Biogas digesters were constructed, mountain forests started to be restored, and intensive agriculture benefited the mass production of organic fruits. Additionally, a village-owned tourism and hotel enterprise were established for multi-dimensional development. The small village revived, with the concept of environmental protection helping villagers find a balance between economic value and ecological value. They became richer and finally got rid of extreme poverty through the harvest and tourism brought by ecological dividends, achieving a win-win outcome.

When we walked into the village, we saw family-run homestays, Chinese bakeries, small wineries, and nursing homes along the street. Lucid water and lush mountains surrounded the quiet town. It was truly a place for leisure. Tourists from nearby cities were drawn by its beautiful scenery to spend weekends here. Without any interpretation, there was no way for me to imagine the heavily polluted village of fifty years ago.

It was a truly impressive journey for me, both physically and mentally. As a student living in the city, I gained an understanding of how rural revitalization works, beyond what television reports portray. Rural revitalization is still in progress, offering significant opportunities and responsibilities for today's youth. After the field class, I am now more determined to dedicate myself to grassroots efforts and apply my knowledge to serve the people in the future.