Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, the birthplace of China’s targeted poverty alleviation strategy, is now pioneering a comprehensive rural revitalization model that ensures all ethnic groups share in common prosperity. According to Liu Tao, Communist Party Secretary of the autonomous prefecture and deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, the region has successfully transitioned from poverty elimination to sustainable development.
The prefecture, home to approximately 2.9 million permanent residents with ethnic minorities comprising 80.5% of the population, has achieved remarkable economic growth. Since President Xi Jinping first proposed the ‘targeted poverty alleviation’ concept here in 2013, Xiangxi has lifted 656,000 people out of poverty and removed all 1,110 impoverished villages from the poverty list by 2020. Last year, the region’s GDP reached 88.95 billion yuan ($12.94 billion), more than doubling its 2013 figure.
Xiangxi has implemented sophisticated monitoring systems and support mechanisms to prevent regression into poverty. Over 12,000 Party members maintain one-to-one partnerships with formerly impoverished families, while more than 3,470 officials remain stationed in villages. The government has developed tailored strategies for each village, household, and individual, creating a safety net that provides an average of five targeted assistance measures per monitored household.
The revitalization strategy leverages both economic and cultural assets. Large export-oriented tea plantations and eco-friendly tea gardens now provide stable income for over 600,000 people. The prefecture has also capitalized on its natural landscapes and rich ethnic culture to develop rural tourism, creating job opportunities for more than 500,000 residents.
Shibadong village, the symbolic starting point of China’s poverty alleviation campaign, exemplifies this transformation. The Miao ethnic village, known for its traditional wooden dwellings and cultural heritage, has seen its collective economic dividend reach 1 million yuan last year, with per capita income exceeding 30,000 yuan.
Rather than isolated development, Xiangxi has established 10 rural revitalization clusters ensuring balanced regional growth. The strategy emphasizes cultural enrichment through regular public activities, such as the grand Spring Festival gathering in Jishou that featured performances rooted in Xiangxi’s ethnic traditions.
The comprehensive approach demonstrates how targeted poverty alleviation can evolve into sustainable rural revitalization, creating models that benefit all ethnic groups while preserving cultural heritage.