Author: Wu Chunyan, Shen Bing, Zhang Mengting 

Publisher: Guangming Daily

Date: March 20, 2025

In alignment with Guangdong Province's Hundred Counties, Thousand Towns, and Ten Thousand Villages High Quality Development Project, Around Nankun Mountain - Luofu Mountain County Town Village High Quality Development Demonstration Zone (hereafter referred to as the Around Two Mountains Demonstration Zone) is emerging as an innovative model for county-level economic development. Huzhen Town in Boluo County, Huizhou City, serves as the southeastern gateway to this demonstration zone, leveraging its geographical advantages to systematically merge cultural and ecological resources with a foundation in modern agriculture. The comprehensive promotion of the Greetings from Huzhen agricultural cultural tourism integration project aims to establish a model for rural revitalization within the zone.

(The fourth practical team members from Jinan University)

As part of this innovative momentum, the fourth practical team from Jinan University's Innovation Class is actively engaged in a collaborative effort. This multidisciplinary team, composed of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, is conducting in-depth research across seven administrative villages in Huzhen Town. Utilizing a field investigation approach, the team has developed a three-dimensional observation model that analyzes the historical evolution of these rural areas, compares differences in village resource endowments, and explores the integration pathways of red genes + green industries + intangible cultural heritage.

Through collaboration with local entities, the practice team has generated over 100,000 words of research focused on the Huzhen code for merging agriculture, culture, and tourism, contributing innovative ideas to the rural revitalization efforts.

During their visit to Huzhen Town, the practice team observed firsthand how digital technologies are reshaping the local economy. Deputy Mayor Li Wenguan introduced the Greetings from Huzhen project, detailing efforts to develop rural live streaming capabilities, nurture new farmers, and create a brand matrix for government initiatives. At the local exhibition center, team members witnessed how agricultural products are transformed from the fields to digital platforms, emphasizing how the synergy of digital innovation and industry is redefining the value chain of traditional agriculture.

In the fields of Huzhen, a cadre of rural CEOs is emerging, harnessing innovative ideas to invigorate traditional agriculture. Local entrepreneurs, including Yang Rongtian with his fruit wine workshop, Zhong Zhendong with his tea cooperative, and Li Muxing with the Liguang Village’s Plums Culture Festival, are showcasing the people-oriented code of rural revitalization through their practical endeavors. These efforts are not only boosting the value of agricultural products but are also facilitating the preservation and development of local culture through the establishment of cooperatives, distinctive branding, and cultural festivals.

At Shanghuatian Agricultural Technology Company, innovative agricultural practices are supported by data collection that complements the expertise of seasoned farmers. Additionally, the Tea Mountain live streaming initiative imparts cultural significance to tea products, ensuring traceability from farm to consumer. This groundbreaking model allows individuals to succeed economically while remaining deeply linked to their communities.

Huzhen Town benefits from both rich natural resources and a deep-seated historical and cultural legacy. From historical sites like the intelligence center of the East River Column to the millennium-old traditions of the Gong and Drum culture, and even an aerospace breeding demonstration base, these components interweave the narrative of rural revitalization.

Members of the practice team enhanced their understanding of Huzhen's cultural background through interviews with guardians of intangible cultural heritage and visits to historical exhibits. They observed how new technologies are breathing life into historical narratives, decoding intangible cultural heritage via the creative economy, and ensuring that aspirations for space and agriculture are firmly rooted in the modern context. This interplay of history and future encapsulates the unique allure of Huzhen’s initiatives for rural revitalization.

(Team members are interviewing with guardians of intangible cultural heritage)

As Huzhen Town carves its path towards high-quality development within the Around Two Mountains demonstration zone, it has adeptly combined agriculture, culture, and tourism through the Greetings from Huzhen project. By implementing an innovative model led by the Party, integrating industries, and fostering community enterprise cooperation, Huzhen Town is making strides in urban-rural integration and industrial growth.

Looking ahead, Huzhen Town intends to continue exploring new avenues for innovation and achieving greater heights in rural revitalization. With a commitment to openness and pragmatism, it aims to contribute wisdom and strength to the broader vision for rural revitalization. Simultaneously, institutions like Jinan University will deepen collaborations with local governments to jointly author a new chapter in the story of rural development.