Recently, a team from Tianjin University (TJU) went to the mountainous areas of Guizhou Province and opened a night school for villagers’ poverty alleviation.
Measures have been taken to develop tourism industry in Guizhou mountainous areas, transforming agricultural areas into scenic spots, wastelands into parks, and rural cottages into guest rooms. However, villagers’ business exchanges are impeded as many women and senior citizens are not well-educated and couldn’t even use smartphones. Through night school, Tianjin University helped solve the villagers’ problems in development of rural tourism.
The team went to six counties and districts in Guizhou Province, including Shiqian, Congjiang, Yuping, Zhenyuan and Sansui, analyzed data and built models, and empowered rural tourism through night school teaching. Based on preliminary investigations, the team organized five batches of night school courses via “Loushang Ancient Village Night school”, “Guiyun Community Night School” and other local platforms. The night school lasted for two weeks, teaching from four basic categories, namely basic literacy, tourism services, skill improvement and folk culture. A total of 28 courses were set up, including short video release, folk culture promotion, Chinese character, and rural tourism management.
“The two-week courses have firmed up the cultural confidence of our villagers and ignited their pride in hometown. After understanding the local advantages, they will become more motivated to develop the tourism industry,” said Zhou Laiyun, Director of the Loushang Village Committee.
Sunyuan, instructor of the team, pointed out that the faculty and students of TJU gathered together with their responsibility for rural revitalization, and came close to the locals via night school courses. This night school practice constitutes good memories of every team member and the flower of hope blooms in the hearts of villagers.
The central areas of Guizhou Provinces boast impressive natural scenery, extraordinary customs of ethnic groups and abundant resources. Among them, the Loushang Ancient Village and Dadai Village of Miao People are two sparkling pearls. Surrounded by luxuriant cypresses, the Loushang Ancient Village forms a remote utopia. Founded during Ming Dynasty, it now has a history of more than 500 years and enjoys the fame as “the most intactly preserved ancient village of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Fodingshan areas”. As the “living fossil” and “ecological museum” of the Miao culture, Dadai Village is known as “an intangible cultural heritage corridor on the ridge”.
By Li Xiang
Editor: Sun Xiaofang
