Leng Juzhen (1st, R), first secretary of Xiaonanhe Village in Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, takes pictures of villagers working on a tourism project, on August 18. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

Leng Juzhen, has served as first secretary of Xiaonanhe Village, Raohe County, in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, for nearly five years. Through Leng's efforts, the local rural tourism industry has boomed and all the villagers shook off poverty in 2018 with the help of the village-stationed poverty-alleviation team.

Xiaonanhe lies at the foot of Dabingzi Mountain, not far from the meandering Ussuri River. "The beautiful Xiaonanhe was just asleep," Leng said. "I'm here to wake it up."

Leng led the villagers in the development of a folk tourism base, and helped them promote industries with local features such as the production of chili sauce. After years of effort, rural tourism has taken shape in the village, homestays have been built up and attracted a large number of visitors, and agricultural specialties have hit the market and begun to sell well.

In 2019, Xiaonanhe was listed among the top national key villages for rural tourism. Between 2016 and the end of 2019, the village made a profit of more than 4 million yuan (US $586,400) from tourism and farm products.

The villagers live a better life, and increasingly wear smiles on their faces. Leng has recorded the development and changes there through capturing moments in the residents' lives. 

The development of the village has just begun, and the villagers will become much happier, Leng added.

Leng Juzhen takes a short video of villager Kang Jinxiang and her hand-made insoles in Xiaonanhe Village, Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 18. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

Song Wenming (R) and his wife Yang Junhua hold their geese in Xiaonanhe  Village, Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 18. The couple has involved in the local featured breeding industry to escape poverty and increase their income. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

Leng Juzhen (front, L) shows folk costumes to visitors in a scenic spot named Fuwu in Xiaonanhe Village, Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 19. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

An aerial photo taken on August 17 shows Xiaonanhe Village, Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

Leng Juzhen (2nd, L) rings a gong for a featured tourism project in Xiaonanhe  Village, Raohe County, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 18. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

Leng Juzhen (L) discusses about the Xiaonanhe Chili Sauce Factory with a bank worker for commercial loans in Xiaonanhe Village, Raohe County,  Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 19. [Xinhua/Wang Jianwei]

(Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China)