China is shifting its focus away from urban expansion towards rural revitalization. CGTN’s Jonathan Betz traveled to Shuangle Town, one of the poorest areas in China’s southwest Sichuan province, where he got a closer look at changes in the life in one rural village.

The campaign of tearing down dilapidated buildings has been carried out across Shuangle Town for years as a part of the effort to improve people’s lives. Most of the mud-brick homes have been rebuilt into more stable shelters for villagers here. There are only two households still living in mud-brick houses. 

People in rural Sichuan still drink well water but they are using pumps and pipes to draw water, which is a big improvement because they used to collect water from a public well with buckets and a stick called “biandan” in Chinese. Now they’re freed from such hard labor. 

Almost every household has a well in the backyard, but some villagers here also rely on public wells. The one we visited provides water for three households. Villagers here hardly use water purifiers. When asked about potential risk of water pollution, local officials said there’s no need to worry about that because polluting industries are not allowed in the area. 

The village is also seeking to enrich people’s lives, especially for the elderly and children who are left behind. So a recreation center was built a year ago to better serve their needs. It’s called a senior center but people of all ages can come to play mahjong, work out and socialize. Compared with recreation facilities in big cities, it’s quite small but people here look very happy and satisfied. 

Besides, villagers can also enjoy free outdoor movies at least once a month. 

“I’m really touched by the generosity of people here, they have been extremely kind. They opened up their homes and rolled out red carpets for us so that’s just really special to be a part of this coverage. It’s also interesting to see the huge difference of lifestyles between Beijing and rural Sichuan province. These are very different worlds and I don’t think a lot of people outside China see these different parts of China so I’m really honored to be a part of this effort that shows our global audience the different layers of China and what China is doing to help millions of people here. 

“People here may not have a lot of belongings but I think a lot of people here are very rich in spirit. They are very friendly, warm and welcoming people, I don’t get the impression from people we met here that they are unhappy. Whatever they do have, they are very willing to share. 

“Poverty is everywhere, and I think there are different layers of poverty. There are still Americans who are struggling to eat and get shelter. Poverty is something that every country faces; it may look different, but no matter where you are, there are still people who are suffering and need help.”