Rural prosperity driven by 'red engine' in Qingzhen

The picturesque green land in Guanyou village at Qingzhen, a county-level city in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo/gywb.cn]

"This is the narrow river that the Red Army crossed using a pontoon bridge during their Long March," says Lu Zaihua, Party branch secretary of Guanyou village, telling a story of how the Red Army walked through the village 85 years ago. 

Aiming to mislead the enemies and hide their true intentions, the Red Army headed for Guiyang in 1936. But first they had to find a way to cross the Maotiao river, which runs across the border between Qingzhen and Xiuwen county. The army's reconnaissance troops persuaded the local villagers to build a bridge out of bamboo, which allowed the huge force's many soldiers to cross the river. 

The Red Army then camped in the village for three days and left many "red stories" that have been passed down by locals from one generation to the next in this remote village.

In order to spread "red culture" and lift the villagers out of poverty, the government recently launched a development plan named "1936". 

The meaning of "1936" can be interpreted by separating out the numbers. To begin with, the village will renovate "one" sightseeing road, following the footsteps of the Red Army. "Nine" flowers, fruit and herb medicines will be planted along the road, including kiwi fruit, roses and peaches.

"Three" bases for patriotic education, agricultural carnivals and the nostalgia experience will be put in place. In addition, the government also plans to develop "six" local scenic spots, such as karst caverns and Suoxi forest park.