Mao Xianglin (2nd L) and villagers take a rest at Xiazhuang Village, Zhuxian Township, Wushan County of southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
WUSHAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- For those who lived in Xiazhuang Village, it once took them two days to reach the nearest county. Thanks to the unceasing efforts of Mao Xianglin, the onerous traveling has become history.
In 1997, 38-year-old Mao Xianglin, the secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) branch of Xiazhuang Village and head of the village committee, mobilized the villagers to build a better road to the outside world. To speed up the road building, Mao once worked and lived at the construction site for three months without going home.
Finally, an 8-kilometer long and 2-meter wide road was finished in 2004. After more upgrading works conducted by the local government, the travel time from Xiazhuang Village to the county seat has been slashed to about one and a half hours.
Aerial photo taken on July 3, 2020 shows the view of Xiazhuang Village, Zhuxian Township, Wushan County of southwest China's Chongqing. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Aerial photo taken on July 3, 2020 shows the mountain roads at Xiazhuang Village. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
A vehicle is reflected in a mirror running on the road that links Xiazhuang Village and the outside world at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin (3rd, L) talks with villagers at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 6. 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin and villagers discuss the sale plan of oranges at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
For Mao, building a road is the first step leading to the next of seeking a way to prosperity. After consulting experts, he decided to develop orange planting in the village. Now, the orange orchard here covers an area of about 650 mu (about 43.3 hectares), and the whole village has shaken off poverty in 2015.
"In the future, we'll develop rural tourism. I believe there's a better tomorrow for Xiazhuang Village," Mao said.
Mao Xianglin (front) and villagers go to harvest oranges at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin harvests oranges at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin carries oranges at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin communicates with a fruit trader on the phone while taking a rest at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021.(Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin (3rd, R) and villagers sort and package oranges at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)
Mao Xianglin (1st, L) introduces the story of building roads in Xiazhuang Village to the audience at an exhibition hall at Xiazhuang Village, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)■
