Guizhou Province is known for its diversity of ethnic minorities. It's also the place where the highest number of the country's poverty-stricken population has been recorded, totaling about five million.
CCTV reporter Meng Qingsheng talks with a local official in Leishan County of Qiandongnan Prefecture, and sees how he is helping the Miao ethnic minorities out of poverty through fruit cultivation and culture revival.
It's harvest season for waxberries in Guizhou. These trees were planted 20 years ago …but the harvest is usually poor. Last year, the government sent Liu Wei to help the locals combat poverty.
"The price for waxberries wasn't very good. Fruit sales only made up a small part of the villagers' income. The crops were poorly managed and all the trees were untrimmed. We hope to improve the management of the harvest and open up more channels to sell these waxberries -- like signing contracts with supermarkets, boosting tourism, and selling on-line," said Liu Wei, village party secretary.
Liu has organized a market at a nearby tourist site, where villagers can sell their fruit. Prices are low, but sales usually aren't very good, because of the limited number of customers. Liu came up with the idea of selling waxberry fruit online. Six students from the village run the new site.
"By working here, I can help my hometown sell more waxberries. I have just finished the National College Entrance Exams, and come here to do my part to promote the village's growth," said Yang Mei, Nanmeng villager.
Nanmeng village is home to people from China's fourth largest ethnic minority group -- the Miao people. But to escape poverty, many locals have abandoned their traditional way of living, and gone to coastal cities to find work.
This Miao village has a population of 750 people. About one-fifth of the people here live under the poverty line. Many locals hope that by reviving their traditional culture, and turning it into a profitable industry, they can reach relative prosperity.
A local primary school is teaching the art of Lusheng music playing as part of the poverty relief program. The village hopes the wind instrument performances can draw tourists to promote growth.
It has also invited craftsmen to teach the art of making Lusheng wind instruments to help preserve Miao culture.
"These poverty relief funds are being used to better protect and promote traditional culture. We have invited qualified craftsmen to teach us. We encourage Lusheng lovers in the village to learn to play the Lusheng, and also learn to make them on their own. I hope in the future, when people talk about Lusheng music, people will think of Nanmeng Village," said Liu Wei.
Liu believes the key to reducing poverty in Nanmeng village is to find a balance between people, land and money.
He says it won't be easy to eradicate poverty, but he believes he can help most people rise out of poverty before the end of his two-year term, in 2017.
