Social forces bring rural development possibilities

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It was a rainy Sunday morning. Duan Shiyue and some fellow villagers were rehearsing the Dian Opera. That’s a traditional art form popular in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, which has a history of more than 200 years.

“We only performed it during important festivals in a very casual way in the past. With regular practices, we now do it a lot better and it is attracting more young people,” said the middle-aged man from Mapingguan, a remote village of Bai ethnic minority in the city of Dali, a well-known tourist destination.

This is one example of how this small village is trying to revive itself in all aspects. Once an important checkpoint for collecting salt taxes on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Mapingguan has been gradually waning over the past decades.

Some farmers from Mapingguan Village in Yunnan Province rehearse Dian Opera. / CGTN Photo

In March 2017, a program called “Walking out of Mapingguan” was launched here to encourage and finance local farmers to learn something they are interested in from professionals in the big cities, such as Dian Opera performing from the provincial theater.

Huang Yinwu, an architect, came up with the idea while devoting himself to the restoration of the nearby ancient town of Shaxi – allegedly the only surviving fair on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. He told CGTN that the government plays an important role in rural development by improving infrastructure and public services, but the villagers themselves are the decisive factor.

“A village will develop in a sustainable way only when its inhabitants realize self-development. So what we need to do is to stimulate them and make them less dependent on the government,” Huang said.

Wu Mei reads books for some children of Mapingguan at his home. Supported by the “Walking out of Mapingguan” program, she learnt preschool education knowledge in a kindergarten. /CGTN Photo

With financial support from several foundations, more and more villagers are venturing out from the mountains, and bringing fresh ideas and knowledge back in the hope of contributing to the development of their village.

Wu Mei is one of the pioneers. She learnt preschool education from a kindergarten in Dali. Now, she and some other young mothers teach their children how to read, sing and dance in their homes in turn each Saturday.

“Although we are not professional teachers, it's great to try. The children have changed a lot in terms of their daily behavior and character. I think this program is really a great help to us,” said Wu.

Duan Junheng, a woodworking enthusiast, said his learning experiences in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province offered him a precious opportunity to meet people from different walks of life, broadening his horizons. He plans to open a workshop in the village.

Duan Junheng works on woodcarving. The young man learnt woodworking from professionals in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province and plans to open a workshop of his own in the village. /CGTN Photo

The local government has been working to fight poverty here lately. A rough road was built only two years ago to better connect Mapingguan with the outside world. Local officials have a high expectations for the plan.

“By bringing in social forces, we hope to see changes in the young people, in terms of their consciousness. This is actually more effective than material assistance,” said Zhang Xieju, head of Shaxi Township.

Huang said the program will be proven as successful when his team can leave the village one day. He hopes that the villagers will live their life in a calm, confident and dignified manner in the near future - and this is just the beginning.