Zheng Wangchun is head of the village committee and secretary of the Party committee of Gulu village and a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC). His hundreds of fellow villagers have witnessed and benefited from China's rural vitalization strategy in recent years.

In the past, the village, located atop a cliff about 800 meters from the ground and 1,400 meters above sea level, had no road access. To reach the closest village, Gulu residents needed to climb down from their own mountaintop, cross the roaring Dadu River below and climb to the top of the neighboring mountain.

"Our life was very hard. We used to climb down from the village using ladders and hold onto vines and then climb up the other side," Zheng said. In 2003, the village built a narrow path, less than one meter wide, which made the trip less perilous but it still took villagers more than three hours to make the crossing. In 2018, as part of the country's poverty alleviation and rural vitalization drive, a 750-meter cableway was built to access the village. Since then, it only takes villagers a few minutes to get out. Additionally, every household can now access tap water, electricity and internet connection.

As living conditions improve, Gulu's residents find it easier to venture beyond their village to increase their incomes. In addition to traditional farming, the village is also developing tourism. The long cableway, the natural scenery and local Yi ethnic customs and traditions, which have a history of over 400 years, have attracted tourists from across the country. 

In 2013, China proposed the concept of targeted poverty alleviation, that is, giving differentiated guidance and assistance to poverty-stricken people in line with local conditions. More government support has since been provided to villages like Gulu. "Before 2013, the annual per capita income of our villagers was less than 2,000 yuan (around $287), while now it exceeds 10,000 yuan (around $1,435), with more infrastructure in place and more industries developed," Zheng said.

"Previously, many young people in Gulu left their home to work in large cities to make a living. Now, more of them are willing to come back to the village because they can earn more money right at their doorsteps," he added. 

Over the past years, Zheng has led villagers in developing a new path of integrated agricultural, cultural and tourism development, breathing new life into the Yi ethnic community. Villagers have been running homestays and multiple scenic photo spots to attract tourists. At the same time, the village has expanded characteristic industries such as walnuts, Sichuan pepper and goat farming.

Thanks to continued nationwide efforts, close to 100 million poor rural residents and a total of 832 impoverished counties have been lifted out of poverty, including more than 9.6 million poverty-stricken people relocated out of inhospitable areas. China has, once and for all, resolved the problem of absolute poverty. 

In 2023, Zheng was elected, for the first time, as a deputy to the NPC. He was excited about sharing the story of Gulu with deputies from all around the country during the NPC's annual session. More importantly, he has a mission to express villagers' concerns and hopes as a national lawmaker. He has suggested increasing the special funds for infrastructure construction and the development of industries in remote areas and ethnic minority areas, helping with rural development and the expansion of industry, increasing employment and encouraging entrepreneurship, so that more villages can become prosperous.

Since becoming an NPC deputy, Zheng has submitted suggestions, including expanding internet access in rural areas and strengthening wildlife protection, while minimizing its impact on farmers' livelihoods. "The smiles of villagers are the most valuable rewards for grassroots work," Zheng said.

Zheng said Gulu will follow the country's policies to consolidate and build on the achievements in poverty alleviation and to continue to promote rural vitalization. "We will upgrade our services and products for tourists, catering to different needs and improving their travel experience," he said.

For example, the village will improve the packaging and quality of its distinctive agricultural products, which include cured meat, walnuts and honey. It will also host carnivals and activities for visitors to experience the traditional culture of the Yi people, such as colorful clothes, unique music and dances, as well as delicate embroidery.