When you enter Baoan Village, what meets your eyes are traditional folk houses, blooming flowers, rows of trees, clean roads, colorful wall paintings, exquisite courtyards. Such picturesque views can be seen everywhere in Baoan Village.
Based on the construction of infrastructure, Baoan Village has been committed to people-oriented policies and scientific and ecological outlook on development, so it has scored great achievements on ecological civilization, spiritual civilization and material civilization simultaneously. The village has been successively rated as Changsha City Waste Classification Demonstration Village, Changsha City Beautiful Village, Changsha City Ecological Demonstration Village, and Ningxiang City Beautiful and Advanced Village and First-class Village, etc.

Various forms of civilization are advocated in Baoan Village

Beautiful village culture, rural sage culture, farming culture and filial piety culture are the key to rural revitalization.

A theatrical show written, directed and performed by the villagers was being rehearsed in the Cultural Square of Baoan Village on September 2, from which came rhythmic allegro and melodious voices. Despite the hot weather, the show still attracted many villagers. The naughty kids squatted in the front row for fear that they would be blocked by the adults and thus miss the wonderful show.
“We organize this show voluntarily.” Song Jia, the leader of the cheongsam art team, who just finished rehearsal, wiping sweat, said with a smile that villagers now actively participate in art-related activities and bring their art talent into full play. “The conflicts can be solved naturally when dancing together, so there are few quarrels among villagers.”

“Each beautiful natural village has its cultural implication. For example, Nanshan Natural Village and Hengtang Village gain their names from famous ancient poems. It is expected to build a pastoral village that is reminiscent to migrant villagers.” According to Min Juanjuan, first secretary for rural revitalization in Baoan Village, the village has established a volunteer brand to extend voluntary services to villages and groups; it has also set up New Era Civilization Practice Station and the “Farmers Workshop” to promote Chinese fine traditional culture and moral models, aiming to motivate villagers to develop good habits and follow good habits.

Meanwhile, we have also built a cultural corridor where villagers can know the history of the village and socialist core values, a farmhouse bookstore where villagers can get theoretical guidance of achieving prosperity and a cultural square where villagers can do recreational activities.

Next, we plan to build a ring-shaped hall, with the introduction of literature and history of the Wei and Jin Dynasties on the one side and poems of the Tang and Song Dynasties on the other side, through which children can have a concrete idea about the development of pastoral poetry.  

Against the backdrop of rural revitalization, consistent efforts have been made to improve the village’s living environment and to achieve a full coverage of beautiful scenery.  

“The village takes on a new look. We feel comfortable for living in this beautiful village.” Liu Hao, a prospective college student, was amazed by the brand-new village. “In the past few years, the village has seen a burgeoning economy and a profound culture. As a prospective college student, I am very proud of my hometown and hope that I can do my bit to the revitalization of my hometown in the future,” he said.   

Booming industries lead to prosperity

In recent years, Baoan Village has made great achievements through agricultural tourism and products.  

Rows of maple, camellia and yew trees are planted orderly in Runzhi Flower Seedling Base of Baoan Village; various trees, colorful flowers contend for attention and attract bees and butterflies. In the distance, more than ten villagers are cultivating seedlings at the base.

“We work here and can earn 150 yuan a day, and can even take care of our family!” While skillfully filling the cultivated soil into a small flowerpot, the 47-year-old Xiong Liping said with smiles.

“The base hires 70 people in peak season. Even in off season, there are nearly 20 people on duty.” Given that the products are often in short supply, the head of the base plans to transfer more than 164.74 acres of land to meet the booming market.

The booming industry is a crucial part in rural revitalization. According to Min Juanjuan, Baoan Village adopts centralized land circulation and land stock system. Supported by local resources, the village attaches great importance to the establishment of characteristic agricultural industry chain, rural cooperatives, family farms and agricultural products.
Meanwhile, it has also founded a housekeeping service company which offers training courses and jobs for rural surplus labor force, thereby realizing agricultural industrialization, specialization and branding of green and quality products.

“In the next step, we plan to offer jobs for jobless women at the village through developing sweet potato industry. We will also make great efforts on courtyard economy for the bright future of Baoan,” said Min Juanjuan who is confident about the further development of Baoan.

Joint efforts should be made for the revitalization of the village. People can get a general idea of pastoral scenery, village story and traditional culture through colorful wall paintings which blend perfectly with the natural views. The picturesque village is just like a scroll of painting which reveals itself slowly before villagers’ eyes.