STORY: Revitalizing ancient villages: How power of talent transforms Sanjianxi
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage/File
DATELINE: Jan. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:04:27
LOCATION: JINAN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Sanjianxi Village, Shandong Province, China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG YUANHU, Entrepreneur in Sanjianxi Village
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG YUANHU, Entrepreneur in Sanjianxi Village
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): GAO SHUZHEN, Party Secretary, Sanjianxi Village
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU YA'NAN, University graduate entrepreneur, Sanjianxi Village
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN PING, General manager of local shopping mall, entrepreneur from Zhejiang Province
7. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LIU MINGXIN, Head of a theme park, entrepreneur from Heilongjiang Province
8. SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LI QIXIAO, Official of Sanjianxi Village
9. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): GAO SHUZHEN, Party Secretary of Sanjianxi Village

STORYLINE:

An ancient village in eastern China, known for its picturesque landscape and archaic structures, is gaining fame for how its residents beat poverty and embrace rural revitalization.

Sanjianxi Village in Ji'nan, Shandong Province, is widely regarded as a model of rural governance, and in its quest for revitalization, talent has played a role.

45-year-old Wang Yuanhu is a native of Sanjianxi Village.
15 years ago, a decision he made altered the course of his life forever.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG YUANHU, Entrepreneur in Sanjianxi Village
"I studied animal husbandry and veterinary medicine at university, and I was interested in ecological farming. Then Ms. Gao, the Party chief, said our village will definitely develop well in the future. She also considered introducing ecological agriculture. So we hit it off."

Much to the surprise of many, Wang quit a decent job in Beijing, and became the first university graduate to return to work in the village.

Back then, Sanjianxi was notoriously poor, with its collective debt topping 800,000 yuan (about 109,590 USD). There had been a persistent brain drain, and very few of those who left chose to return.

After starting his own business, Wang once faced funding difficulties.

The village Party chief, Gao Shuzhen, came to his aid and secured around one million yuan (136,000 USD) in loans with her own guarantee, which helped Wang stay afloat.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG YUANHU, Entrepreneur in Sanjianxi Village
"Ms. Gao helped us acquire repurposed land. She also worked to meet our water and electricity needs and had paved roads constructed, allowing us to progress step by step."

Gao, a former high school teacher, assumed the post of Sanjianxi's Party Secretary in 2004.
Since then, she has made it her mission to help fellow villagers out of poverty.
With policy support from the central government, Gao has managed to secure funding to build new roads, develop modern agriculture and industries, and explore Sanjianxi's cultural heritage to develop tourism.
In the meantime, more young talent like Wang has been lured back to their hometown.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): GAO SHUZHEN, Party Secretary, Sanjianxi Village
"First and foremost, we had to address young people's concerns. On one hand, we should ensure that they can work here with peace of mind, as we assist them in obtaining loans and coordinating government support funds. Secondly, we create platforms for young people. They will also help attract young people to work in the village."

After making strenuous efforts, Sanjianxi got rid of poverty in 2015.

The village now has taller buildings, wider roads, and thriving industries. And rural revitalization is in full swing, with young talent playing an important role.

So far, more than 200 young people have been attracted to Sanjianxi, including some from other provinces.
Each of them has found their niche, contributing their vigor, expertise and creative minds.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU YA'NAN, University graduate entrepreneur, Sanjianxi Village
"The village has provided young entrepreneurs with policy and financial support. Many young people like us have seized the opportunity of the new media era. I use my camera to create content about our eco-friendly products and promote them to consumers."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): CHEN PING, General manager of local shopping mall, entrepreneur from Zhejiang Province
"Their style of work here is efficient and results-oriented, and they genuinely serve the people. I feel that this place is the right choice."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LIU MINGXIN, Head of a theme park, entrepreneur from Heilongjiang Province
"We have found that Sanjianxi is a perfect fit for our children's entertainment project. Also, it is located close to towns and the city proper, so this allows it to attract more tourists for recreational activities."

In 2021, the five-yearly village cadre election was held in Sanjianxi.
The five newly elected officials had an average age of 35 -- two of them are university graduates.

SOUNDBITE 7 (Chinese): LI QIXIAO, Official of Sanjianxi Village
"To attract young people to settle in Sanjianxi Village, we have focused on the 'Three Haves': having opportunities, income, and quality of life. We aim to provide young people with a platform for showcasing their talents, the opportunity to earn at least as much as they did in the city, and access to the same level of convenience and quality of life as in urban areas."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): GAO SHUZHEN, Party Secretary of Sanjianxi Village
"It's not just about attracting young people back; more importantly, it's about creating a favorable environment for them to enjoy life here. It's about fostering an atmosphere where everyone has a sense of responsibility, everyone fulfills their duties, and everyone enjoys the benefits. That's what we call 'social governance with broad-based participation.' The awareness of young people as stakeholders is growing stronger, and as a rural Party branch secretary, I find myself increasingly motivated. This is the hope I see."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jinan, China.
(XHTV)