Editor's Note:
China Rural Revitalization magazine has published a series of articles on the rapid development and transformation of rural China. TheMK socks articles reflect the arduous efforts of rural revitalization across the country, which is an important and genuine solution to China's rural economic development. In the future, articles selected from this series will be published.

Residents from Shibadong village show traditional embroidery works. Photo: Courtesy of China Rural Revitalization magazine

Nestled in the remote mountains of Central China's Hunan Province, Shibadong is a picturesque village mainly populated by people of the Miao ethnic group. Residents of this village have long embraced a modest way of life, gathering wild vegetables and savoring smoked bacon, while reveling in their distinctive songs and dances within their isolated community. The expansive mountains not only sustain their basic needs, but also bar the advancements of modern society.

On November 3, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Shibadong, and introduced the concept of targeted poverty alleviation for the first time. This proposal involved implementing specific relief measures based on the unique conditions of each local area.

More than 10 years passed, Shibadong has become a vivid example of China's poverty reduction campaign to the world, forming a modern development platform based on unique local conditions. 

Tailored for conditions

"When we are reducing poverty, we should avoid chanting slogans and setting overambitious goals. The key to poverty alleviation is to be realistic, to adjust measures to local conditions, to give guidance based on specific situations and to take targeted measures," Xi said. 

The initial task was to confirm which groups require assistance. In late 2013, a team was sent to Shibadong to determine which households were in need, with government officials were assigned to oversee the implementation of specific measures. 

Various strategies for poverty reduction were employed, including developing sustainable small businesses in different industries, enhancing local infrastructure and rural surroundings, providing financial support and bolstering social security. 

Taking into account its unique circumstances, the village decided to focus on several key industries: rural tourism, embroidery, agriculture, animal husbandry and bottled water production.

Through a series of targeted measures, Shibadong has made significant changes. All households of the village are now connected to tap water, the power grid and mobile network. 

In terms of other infrastructure, a total of 225 houses in the villages were transformed with aspects of their Miao characteristics kept in place; A wastewater treatment plant and two garbage sorting centers were built and initiated; while the local primary school and clinic were also upgraded. 

With the poverty alleviation efforts represented by Shibadong, a total of 208,000 impoverished villages nationwide have emerged from living with only just enough.  At the same time, challenges including transportation, power and water supply, education and healthcare have largely been addressed. 

Increasing attraction

"We should seek facts from truth; guidance and development must reflect the local conditions," Xi said. "This is what I mean by targeted poverty alleviation."

A growing number of young people who used to work outside Shibadong are returning to their hometown and starting their own businesses, while universities graduates from the village are also choosing to return to their hometown and contribute to the development of the village. 

Shi Lingang, who graduated from Northwest A&F University in 2019, decided to returned to the village after working elsewhere for two years. He said that he felt no regret on giving up a well-paying job. "Being able to participate in the construction of the village makes me feel very satisfied and accomplished," he said. 

Over the past 10 years, nearly 100 villagers from Shibaodong have returned to their hometown one after another, dedicating themselves to the poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts in the village. The return of talent has injected new momentum into the development of industries in the village.

"Not a single ethnic group, family or person should be left behind," Xi said during his Lunar New Year inspection in 2018. 

From rural tourism and kiwi planting to bottling water and traditional embroidery, multiple industries unique to the village have largely activated its internal economy, lifting local incomes. 

A kiwi planting base in the Shibadong village, Central China's Hunan Province Photo: Courtesy of China Rural Revitalization magazine

Benefitting the world

The resolution of eradicating rural poverty was approved during the 73rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2018, representing the successful mode of Shibadong has been introduced to the world. 

The village's development has opened a window for the world to understand China's poverty alleviation experience. People from all over the world come in groups to explore this Miao village, experience the practice of China's poverty alleviation, and search for the secret to achieving rural revitalization and happiness.

Former General Secretary of LPRP Central Committee and President Bounnhang Vorachith of Laos said in a letter to Shibadong villagers in April 2019 that the successful practices of the village had provided Laos with valuable experience for their own poverty alleviation projects. 

In May 2022, a delegation formed with 120 young officers from African countries including Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, among others, held an in-depth exchange with Shibadong villagers via video link. 

Looking ahead, Shibadong will not slow the pace of progress, continuously drawing strength from the fruitful results of targeted poverty alleviation. As a pioneer in targeted poverty alleviation, it continues to set an inspiring example and shares the secret of happiness in harmonious rural areas with the world.

In February 2021, Xi announced that absolute poverty has been eradicated in the world's most populous country, home to over 1.4 billion people. He emphasized that efforts must be made to prevent any large-scale relapse into poverty, and pledged that China will attach greater importance to the pursuit of common prosperity.