In the heart of Hainan Island in South China lies Wuzhi Mountain, also known as Five Fingers Mountain. The Shuiman township, the highest-altitude settlement on the island, thrives at the foot of this majestic peak.

In recent years, Lin Hao, Party secretary of Shuiman township and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), has embarked on a journey with over 4,000 local villagers to drive green development with local characteristics. By fostering eco-friendly industries and turning ecological resources into economic benefits, they have blazed a trail towards prosperity.

In 2019, when Lin took office as secretary, he carried out a thorough field research with Party members, where they discovered local conditions were ideal for cultivating tea leaves due to the township's low latitude, high altitude, significant day-night temperature range, misty environment, rich negative oxygen ions and acidic red soil. Subsequently, the township’s Party committee spearheaded the cultivation of local "large leaf tea variety" through agroforestry.

Lin Hao, Party secretary of Shuiman township in Wuzhishan city of South China's Hainan province and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, talks to a tea farmer during a field trip. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Over the years, Lin has championed a "small yet exquisite, beautiful and refined" development strategy, concentrating on industrial development and job creation, particularly the integration of tea plantation, culture and tourism.

In 2023, Shuiman township established an innovation base for practicing the philosophy of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", with tea cultivation surpassing 10,000 mu (666.67 hectares) and revenues from tea leaves exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.38 million).

"Moving forward, we will not only expand tea cultivation, increase yields and farmers' incomes, but also enhance farmers' skills in tea cultivation and processing through the establishment of tea cooperatives to foster industry upgrading," Lin said.

Since ancient times, Wuzhi Mountain has captivated numerous literati and artists with its stunning scenery. Today, rural tourism drives local development thanks to the fusion of ecology and culture.

"Our advantageous ecological environment is a natural asset for advancing rural tourism," Lin said.

Shuiman township, predominantly inhabited by the Li and Miao ethnic groups, boasts rich intangible cultural heritage, including Li brocade, Miao embroidery, traditional tea-making and mountain rice wine.

Lin Hao, Party secretary of Shuiman township in Wuzhishan city of South China's Hainan province and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, talks to a resident working in the Li embroidery business. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

To preserve local intangible cultural heritage, Lin took the initiative to establish the Wuzhi Mountain Li-Miao Children's Choir in August 2022. In May 2024, the choir made its debut on the international stage, in Paris, as part of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. They performed alongside the Le Choeur Des Polysons in Paris, and sang an original song, Chantons La Montagne Wuzhishan à la France (Sing Wuzhishan Mountain to France) in French.

To better meet market demand, Lin took the lead in promoting the integration of agriculture and tourism in Shuiman township by blending tropical rainforest elements with the cultural traditions of the Li and Miao people. A series of signature events have been held to enhance the visibility of the township’s eco-tourism brand.

Nowadays, with convenient transportation and a pleasant and harmonious environment, Shuiman township attracts a steady stream of visitors from around the world. Hotels and scenic spots have markedly upgraded their services, charting a new path of rural vitalization that unifies ecological conservation, green development and improvements in people's livelihoods. In 2023, the township welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors, generating tourism revenues of over 43 million yuan.

Since being elected as an NPC deputy, Lin has pledged to deepen his grassroots engagement. Over the years, Lin has travelled throughout the township, which spans a total area of about 108 square kilometers, administering five villages and a registered population of 4,517.

"A competent NPC deputy must engage with the people at grassroots. I personally visit every household to understand their thoughts, needs and aspirations. This is crucial for proposing high-quality motions and suggestions," he said.

Through his research and survey, Lin said he realized that the primary aspiration of residents was to lead prosperous lives. With over 85 percent of Shuiman township's land situated within the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, the imperative to balance ecological conservation and local development needs became essential in achieving rural vitalization, he said.

At the first session of the 14th NPC in 2023, Lin proposed accelerating the top-level design of national parks, expediting related legislation, establishing a sound national park management mechanism and franchise operation mechanism, and promoting the economic development of counties within national parks to ensure that the dividends of eco-civilization are shared by the people.

Lin Hao, Party secretary of Shuiman township in Wuzhishan city of South China's Hainan province and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, talks to a local tourism worker. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

"Developing distinctive industries, protecting the ecological environment and advancing rural vitalization directly concern the interests of farmers and are the issues I care most about," Lin said.

At the second session of the 14th NPC, he put forward a suggestion to enhance people's sense of fulfillment and happiness through development of national parks.

On Dec 21, 2024, the second draft of the law on national parks was submitted for review at the 13th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee. The draft law embodies the people-centered development philosophy, balances ecological conservation and economic development, and promotes the harmonious coexistence of ecological protection, green development and livelihood improvement.

"We eagerly anticipate the promulgation of the national park law, as it holds significant importance in strengthening the protection and management of national parks, preserving the originality and integrity of vital natural ecosystems and accelerating the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature," Lin said.

Zhou Yudong contributed to this story.