Sponsored by the Women's Federation of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the Xinjiang Family Tradition Museum was unveiled on January 18 and opened to public on May 15.

The museum has spread family education and family traditions to more than seven million families and institutions in Xinjiang via online and offline activities and classes.

"During the COVID-19 epidemic, I learned a lot about family education and family traditions from the online classes together with my daughter. She is no longer picky with her food and her habits are getting better," said local resident Yuan Bin.

Shanihan Aitamu, a woman from Fukang City in Xinjiang, was awarded the national honorary titles of the Role Model of Filial Piety and Respecting Elders and the National Civilized Family due to her consistent efforts in caring for local elderly people.

"The region's women's federation commended me, and my deeds were publicized in the museum. I felt happy and honored. The elderly people are also happy for me," she said.

There were many elderly "empty-nesters" whose children have long since left home in the Wenhualu Community in Fukang in the past. Shanihan invited them to her home when she had time. After a while, her house became an "elderly people's club," and the elderly became just like a family.

Shanihan said that when she was a child, her mother was always ready to offer bowls of hot tea to thirsty passers-by or a piece of crusty pancake to herdsmen who went home late — despite the family's own lack of means.

Her mother's words and deeds affected Shanihan deeply. Now, Shanihan is passing on these good family traditions to her children. 

In 2010, a community in Fukang established an elderly care service station at Shanihan's home. For 10 years, Shanihan has taken care of seniors of Han, Kazakh, Uygur and Hui ethnic groups, providing them with food, leisure and entertainment and helping solve their problems.

The city has since invested 1.3 million yuan (US $193,067) to build a new service center covering an area of 780 square meters. With a studio, a traditional Chinese medicine health care room, an indoor service area, an outdoor entertainment area and green area, the center offers higher-quality care services to 60 elderly people. 

Shanihan is now a calling card of the city. With her encouragement and influence, role models and good deeds have emerged one after another.

"Our family has a big pot for dozens of people to eat from," said Xiaokelai Kuerban, Shanihan's son, whose ambition is to be a policeman, and who was proud of showing off his big family. 

With the theme of patriotism and love for home, the museum has set up five exhibition areas, including General Secretary Xi Jinping's speeches, good families in history, revolutionary traditions in families, and harmonious and honest families in the new era.

The museum showcases the family traditions of historical figures and Xinjiang's outstanding families via videos, texts and pictures in a bid to inspire more people to learn about the history of their own families, and establish and follow good family traditions.

As of now, more than 1,700 people from the autonomous region's Party and government organs, enterprises and institutions have visited the museum, getting involved with a series of publicity activities.

"Harmony in a family makes everything successful. The museum offers us a good base. It is significant for teaching our children and forming a good local cultural atmosphere," said Ren Haiju, an honoree of the national honorary title of the Most Beautiful Family and also a village official in Shuixigou Town, Urumqi County.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)