In order to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, to respond to the call of “following the Party’s leadership and forging ahead on a new journey” and promote the development of social practice activities in the connotation, regularity, standardization and long-lasting development, “Yi Zhi Qing Shan” social practice team of the School of Arts and Communication of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) went to Huaping Town, Jianshi County, Enshi City, Hubei Province, from August 24th to 26th to carry out field investigations and research activities around the theme of “Green, Ecological and Recreational Huaping”, putting into practice the green practice path of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”.
Picture 1 Group photo of members of the practice team
A natural selenium-rich biosphere is formed within the territory of Enshi Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture by the gathering of selenium-rich soil, selenium-rich spring water, selenium-rich plant and animal resources. Based on this, Enshi was awarded the world’s only “World Selenium Capital” at the 14th International Meeting on Trace Elements in Man and Animals in 2011. Jianshi County is known as the crown of selenium capital, and was awarded the title of China’s first “Ecological Climate Health Care Land” by the Chinese Meteorological Society in 2021. Huaping Town, located in a corner of Jianshi County, is a land of wonder and hope. In this green fertile land, the spirit of the two mountains guides and drives ecological development, where we left our footprints and interpret the mission of “learning the thought of the two mountains and practicing the path of ecology” with practice.
Experiencing Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains at Health Care Huaping
Seeing is believing; shine green memory. On August 24, after half a day’s drive, members of the practice team arrived at Huaping Town, the practice destination. Zhou Hua, commissary in charge of publicity (United Front Work) of the Party Committee of Huaping Town and Vice Mayor, warmly received members of the practice team and assisted them in contacting relevant personnel and content for investigation. During the period, the town leader Zhou Hua mentioned that the cultural and tourism industry is a featured business card industry in Huaping. In recent years, Huaping Town has developed the summer economy and transitioned from summer economy to health care economy. It has invested in the construction of a health care town and made successful explorations, has successively won “Hubei Famous Tourism Town”, “Xiaoxihu Provincial Tourism Resort” and “National Pilot Town for Forest Health Care”, and has established the positioning of “Health Care Resort • Livable Huaping”. In the process of fully promoting the construction of a health care town, we aim to highlight our unique features, provide excellent management services, and comprehensively promote the deep integration of agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, sports tourism and health care, and have been awarded the title of provincial demonstration township of beautiful towns in Hubei Province.
Picture 2 Members of the practice team asked the town leader Zhou Hua about relevant matters
Walking out of the people’s government of Huaping Town, members of the practice team took a field trip to the Xiaoxihu Tourist Resort, experiencing the local customs and localities of Huaping and the slow life in the landscape and idylls. Xiaoxihu scenic spot is located in Huaping Town which is known as “Little Hankou”, with pleasant natural environment, surrounded by mountains, in the middle of which is a piece of wetland and lake water, forming a unique and charming natural scenery, which is a good place for leisure, summer holiday and vacation. Members of the practice team sat in the beautiful wind and rain corridor bridge, listening to the chirping of birds and insects and enjoying the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. Many elderly people were relaxing and fishing here, strolling along the wind and rain bridge, or talking and laughing loudly, and the flavor of happiness permeated everywhere.
Picture 3 Members of the practice team visited the XiaoxihuTourist Resort.
Learning about Guankou Grape to experience characteristic agriculture
It’s not as easy as it looks on paper, but you have to do it. On August 25th, with the coordination and assistance of the Huaping Town Government, members of the practice team had the opportunity to interview Zhu Zuyi, a NPC deputy of Huaping Town. Mr. Zhu introduced to the members that Huaping Town has focused on the construction of ecological characteristic agriculture in recent years, and has been shortlisted as national agricultural industry towns and pilot demonstration townships (towns) of “100 counties, 1000 townships, and 10,000 villages” in Hubei. At the same time, he explained the construction of the agricultural industry in Huaping Town, introduced the historical evolution and development of Guankou Grape, a representative of the characteristic selenium-containing agricultural products in Huaping Town, and provided some answers to the future construction of the Guankou Grape brand industry and its supporting cultural and tourism industry in Huaping. This allowed the members of the practical team to have a detailed understanding of the current development status of selenium-containing agricultural products, such as Guankou Grape. After the interview, the team members went into the Guankou Vineyard to have a first-hand experience of Huaping’s special agriculture, and also witnessed the vitality and vigor of green ecological agriculture development.
Picture 4 Interview with Zhu Zuyi, a NPC deputy of the town, by members of the practice team
Picture 5 Practice team members visited Guankou Vineyard
Embrace the feelings of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, and take root in ecological development
Listen to expert experiences and pursue green footprints. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the local selenium status in Huaping Town, the members of the practice team conducted a research interview with Dr. Zhou Guangyan, a technician, at the Agricultural Technology Service Center in Huaping Town, Jianshi County on the afternoon of August 25th, focusing on the selenium industry and construction in Huaping Town. Dr. Zhou Guangyan was approved as a “candidate for the position of dedicated professional and technical talents in hard areas of Hubei Province” in September 2020. He is an excellent grassroots agricultural research personnel in Huaping Town, who has devoted decades of effort to the development of Huaping's characteristic agriculture and effectively promoted the local agricultural development in Huaping. Dr. Zhou gave members of the practice team a detailed explanation on the development history, technical improvement and ecological development of Guankou Grape, a national product of geographical indication, and gave a detailed introduction to the construction and shortcomings of selenium industry in Huaping Town, as well as the current health care status in Huaping Town. When it came to his participation in the construction of selenium agriculture and the popularization of selenium science in Huaping Town, Dr. Zhou’s eyes were filled with tears, which made us feel firsthand the hard work of professional talents in serving the grassroots level, and also made us more respect and admire the pragmatic spirit of the workers for agriculture, rural areas and farmers.
Picture 6 Interview with Dr. Zhou Guangyan by members of the practice team
Picture 7 Group photo of members of the practice team with Dr. Zhou Guangyan
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. In this practice activity, the members of the practice team measured the earth with their feet and took on the responsibility of youth, showcasing the youthful demeanor of young college students in the new era. They had a deeper understanding of “genuine knowledge comes from practice”, appreciated the beauty of Huaping’s waters and mountains, experienced the charm of Huaping’s ecological agriculture in the unique countryside, experienced the development of Huaping’s green ecological health care industry, and actively promoted and practiced the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. This practical activity will also inspire the members to continue to participate in the social research and practice of green ecological science popularization with practical actions, and use what they have learned to contribute to the society with practical and feasible power of youth.
