The Shang San Dao He Village Beautiful Rural Construction Project
Challenges and Objectives
Shang San Dao He Village, located in the Chongli District of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, China, faced various challenges, such as labor migration, weak agricultural foundations, and the urgent need for improved living environments. In response to these challenges and to showcase the outcomes of rural revitalization during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the village initiated the Beautiful Rural Construction Project in 2015. The project focused on two main aspects: the development of agricultural industries and the renovation of residential areas.
Collaboration Partners and Roles
The Shang San Dao He Rural Revitalization plan was initiated by the village party secretary (leader in poverty alleviation), led by the village committee, and actively involved the local residents, with substantial support from the town and district governments. Key stakeholders included the village committee responsible for decision-making, the town government as the executing party, the district agriculture bureau overseeing project approvals, and the district government managing project funds. External support came from the Beijing Dongcheng District government and the National Intellectual Property Office, providing additional assistance. The Chonghe Agricultural Company, initiated by the village leader in poverty alleviation, played a pivotal role in driving agricultural development. Academic institutions such as the Hebei Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences provided technical support during the production process.
Revitalisation Activities
Residential Construction: The construction of new residences began in August 2015 and was completed by the end of 2018. With a total investment exceeding RMB 60 million, the project covered an area of approximately 75 acres, comprising 11 residential buildings with 236 units, along with a village committee and a kindergarten. Through a village assembly, residents agreed to exchange their original homesteads for the new dwellings at a ratio of 1.6:1, with no additional costs. Additionally, a new sewage treatment station was established to mitigate environmental pollution.
Agricultural Development: From 2014 to 2020, significant financial investments were made by the local government in impoverished villages, with relatively fewer funds allocated to non-impoverished ones. After the successful conclusion of poverty alleviation efforts in 2021, the local government began supporting industrial projects in non-impoverished villages. Seizing this opportunity, Shang San Dao He Village successfully applied for five projects in 2021, with a total investment of RMB 11.634 million, focusing on constructing cold storage, high-standard warm sheds, and connected greenhouses, thereby enhancing the village's industrial infrastructure.
Revitalisation Outcome
Following the completion of the Shang San Dao He Village Beautiful Rural Construction Project, all 236 households moved into their new residences. The new homes are spacious, well-lit, thermally efficient, and utilize clean energy (natural gas) for heating during winter. This significantly improved the living conditions for villagers, leading to a noticeable enhancement of the village's overall environment.
In terms of industrial development, the outcomes include:
- High-Quality Vegetable Production: The establishment of a national summer bell pepper base and the region's cabbage flower trading center, with frozen vegetable exports to Japan.
- Rural Tourism Development: Construction of 46 vegetable-picking greenhouses, attracting over 6,000 domestic and international tourists annually.
- Winter Agriculture Development: Cultivation of winter strawberries in high-standard warm sheds, attracting tourists and generating substantial profits.
- Leading Enterprise Facilitation: Formation of three production and sales docking modes, effectively expanding the scale and improving the efficiency of the local vegetable industry.
- Clean Energy Project Construction: Establishment of a 60-acre photovoltaic warm shed base, generating annual benefits and contributing to poverty alleviation.
These revitalization efforts in Shang San Dao He Village serve as a model for sustainable rural development, combining improved living conditions with diversified and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The success of this project underscores the importance of collaborative efforts involving local governments, communities, and external partners in achieving rural revitalization.
This is the abridged version of a case prepared by AIRI Associate Fellow Wu Hua Zhen. For further information, please email Tsinghua University’s China Institute for Rural Studies at cirs@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.