Rural Revitalization Research Articles

Research on the Competitiveness Evaluation of Rural B&B Cluster Based on GEMS Model——Taking Pengzhou Longmen Mountain Jianjiang River Valley Eco-tourism Area as an Example

In the context of rural revitalization, the rural B&B industry demonstrates notable dynamism and exhibits a tendency towards clustering. Using the GEMS model, the competitiveness of the local rural B&B industry cluster is evaluated at four levels: foundation, enterprise, market and environment. The findings indicate that the rural B&B industry cluster in the Pengzhou Longmen Shan Jinjiang Valley Eco-tourism Area exhibits certain competitive advantages. However, there is potential for enhancement at the market and enterprise levels. Consequently, recommendations for promoting the sustainable development of the cluster are proposed.

Research on Issues and Countermeasures for Consolidating and Expanding Poverty Alleviation Achievements and Effectively Connecting with Rural Revitalization in Ethnic Areas of Hubei Province, China

This paper explores the transition from targeted poverty alleviation to rural revitalization in Hubei Province's ethnic regions. Building on China’s success in eradicating absolute poverty by 2020, the focus shifts to addressing relative poverty. The study highlights the need for systematic strategies to consolidate and expand poverty alleviation achievements, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of the challenge. Drawing on the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the paper advocates for effective integration of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Key strategies include precise identification and support systems, industry-based prosperity, specialized industry development, and ecological and cultural reinforcement. Policy formulation should prioritize household-centric approaches and encourage multi-stakeholder participation to foster sustainable and inclusive rural development.

The Development of Rural Tourism in Bozhou City under the Background of Cultural and Tourism Integration

Based on the merger of the former National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Culture in 2018, and the proposal of the rural revitalization strategy of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the rural tourism of Bozhou is facing new development opportunities. This research uses literature collection and SWOT methods to analyze and suggest the development problems in the context of cultural and tourism integration in Bozhou City. This study is conducive to the development of rural tourism in Bozhou City.

The Toilet Revolution Empowers Rural Revitalization based on a Health Perspective

Since the reform and opening up, with the rapid development of the Chinese economy, public health problems have become increasingly serious. At the same time, due to the reality of imbalanced urban-rural development in China, improving the living environment in rural areas is the key and difficult point to achieve rural revitalization. Therefore, in 2015, the Chinese government officially began the "Toilet Revolution", a national public health movement aimed at improving urban and rural public health problems, enhancing people's quality of life, promoting rural economic development, and further promoting the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. Based on a health perspective, this article analyzes the impact of the "toilet revolution" on rural health human capital by reviewing existing data and literature such as the "China Statistical Yearbook" on the level of health service expenditure and the number of sanitary toilet constructions. It further elucidates the mechanism by which the "toilet revolution" empowers rural revitalization, providing a theoretical basis for the government to deepen the "toilet revolution", narrow the urban-rural gap, and promote rural revitalization.

Impact of Rural E-Commerce on Farmers’ Income and Income Gap

Rural e-commerce, as a new form of digital economy, is of great significance in promoting the income of rural households and realizing common prosperity. Based on the 2021 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), the impact of rural e-commerce on farmers’ income and the intra-rural income gap is explored using quantile regression. The results found that (1) rural e-commerce can effectively promote the level of farm household income and alleviate the intra-rural income disparity, with this finding still holding after addressing the potential endogeneity problem and conducting robust-type tests. (2) Rural e-commerce has the most pronounced income-generating effect on low-income households in the southern region; participation in rural e-commerce has a more “center-expanding” effect on households in the secondary education and high material capital groups. (3) Saving production and operation costs, shortening the product circulation chain, and improving access to information are channels through which rural e-commerce affects households’ income. It is recommended to actively promote the deep integration and development of rural e-commerce in rural areas, establish a sound mechanism for bridging the “digital divide”, encourage e-commerce “leaders” to build a perfect industrial chain, and guide smallholders to integrate into the rural e-commerce industrial chain to enjoy the digital dividend.

Women as Alternates: A Study on the Mechanism of Village Official Replacement in the Context of Rural Revitalization – A Case Study of Village J in Southeastern Hubei

Abstract The trend of left-behind women serving as village officials and participating in village governance is on the rise. Research in clan-based villages in the general agricultural regions of central and western China reveals that village factional conflicts make it difficult for elderly male village officials to win in village committee elections. Additionally, the emphasis on younger village officials by local governments forces these older men out of their roles. The economic resources available through village governance are limited and fail to meet the material needs of middle-aged and young male village officials, leading to their withdrawal as well. With the departure of men, left-behind women have become significant candidates for village official positions. Because of the increasing “administratization” 行政化 of village governance, village organizations need to mobilize these women to handle the growing administrative tasks in village management. Serving as village officials allows left-behind women to both care for their children and earn a decent income, while fulfilling the local government’s requirements for village officials. Consequently, through a series of training mechanisms, an increasing number of women are becoming the principal cadres within village committees.

Research on the Construction of Scenarios for Blockchain to Empower Government Governance

This paper delves into the potential and practical challenges of blockchain in government governance. As a cutting-edge development in information and communication technology, blockchain offers unique capabilities in data management and value transfer, presenting new solutions for government governance. The article begins with an overview of the definition, connotation, and current application status of blockchain technology, and then constructs typical scenarios where blockchain technology empowers government governance, including electronic credentials, government data circulation, data resource sharing, collaborative office work, and digital rural revitalization. By realizing these scenarios, the paper analyzes the main problems and challenges faced by blockchain technology in government governance, such as inadequate infrastructure, data leakage risks, and difficulties in inter-departmental collaboration. Finally, a series of suggestions and prospects are put forward to promote the effective application of blockchain technology in digital government affairs, enhancing the transparency, efficiency, and intelligent level of government governance

Analysis Methods for Landscapes and Features of Traditional Villages Based on Digital Technology—The Example of Puping Village in Zhangzhou

Many traditional villages have been degraded to a certain extent due to urbanization and out-of-control management. In addition, due to the lack of recognition and continuation of spatial texture in some village conservation and planning that, in turn, resulting in the gradual disappearance of their distinctive landscape feature. Studying the spatial form of traditional villages helps preserve the authenticity of traditional villages as cultural landscape and inherits traditional historical characteristics. Using Puping Village in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province as an example, this paper obtains the integrated information data of the village through UAV oblique photography, classifies and extracts the spatial constitution of the traditional village using digital technology, quantitatively analyses it from macroscopic to microscopic, and summarizes the spatial morphology analysis method of the traditional village. The results demonstrate that digital technology can effectively and accurately complete data collection and can provide an objective basis for zoning conservation of traditional villages based on the distinction between new and historic buildings. In addition, digital information collection on the traditional villages landscape features will prepare for the establishment of a database and comparative analysis in the future. We further suggest that digital technology analysis needs to be combined with traditional methods to have a deeper understanding of the formation process of village spatial morphology. The results of the practice in Puping Village show that the use of digital technology can provide a scientific basis for the protection and planning of traditional villages, and that this method is adaptable, which can help to efficiently collect and analyze data on landscape characteristics of other similar villages in China, and support innovative methodologies and technologies for China’s rural revitalization efforts.

The Spatial Patterns and Building Policies of Rural Settlements in the Context of Demolition: The Case of Xian’an, China

In China, the “land-restructuring” policy provides balanced land for urban settlements that is strictly limited in expansion. Therefore, reassessing and adjusting the layout of rural settlements is of great practical significance for promoting rural revitalization. In this paper, taking Xian’an district in Hubei Province as an example, we use the weighted rank-sum ratio comprehensive evaluation method and spatial association analysis method to analyze the development level and spatial pattern of settlements. The results show that: (1) The development level of settlements in Xian’an shows obvious spatial differences, with a spatial pattern of ‘high in the core–low in the periphery’ and ‘high in the northwest–low in the southeast’, which is the result of the combined effect of natural geographical conditions and socioeconomic conditions; (2) The comprehensive development level of settlements, evaluated based on four major indicators—population size, resource endowment, spatial characteristics, and material construction—reveals the presence of cluster effects, distance decay effects, administrative hierarchy effects, and “long board” effects; (3) Within village communities, settlements with significantly high levels and settlements with significantly low levels have a similar geographic distribution and mosaic spatial patterns. Lastly, based on the overall development level and spatial association patterns of settlements, this article presents possible options for governmental settlement governance from the standpoint of rural building management.

Study on the mechanism and countermeasures of Ningbo-Bengbu cooperation to promote rural revitalization in Bengbu

Against the backdrop of the integration of the Yangtze River Delta region, in 2021, the Implementation Plan for the Paired Cooperation between Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Cities to Assist Northern Anhui Cities clearly states that Ningbo will cooperate one-on-one to assist Bengbu City, and Bengbu City's rural revitalization has ushered in new development opportunities. The research content of this project includes three aspects: First, systematically describe the typical facts of Ningbo-Bengbu cooperation in promoting rural revitalization in Bengbu under the background of economic integration in the Yangtze River Delta, and on this basis analyze and summarize the existing experience of Ningbo-Bengbu cooperation in promoting rural revitalization in Bengbu; second, conduct an in-depth investigation of Ningbo's effective practices of focusing on the "double strengths" of agriculture, rural construction, and the "three major tracks" of farmers' prosperity, and strive to create a higher-quality "pastoral city, urban village", and summarize and analyze the conditions and factors that constrain the development of Bengbu's agricultural and rural economy; third, under the background of the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, how Ningbo-Bengbu cooperation can utilize the agricultural and rural resource endowments and comparative advantages of the two cities, and propose countermeasures and suggestions for deepening Ningbo-Bengbu cooperation to promote rural revitalization in Bengbu is an important content and ultimate goal of this project. This project provides theoretical evidence for industrial cooperation and communication between Bengbu and Ningbo and the promotion of rural ecological civilization construction, which is of great significance to the development of rural revitalization in Bengbu.

Research on the Dilemma and Optimization Strategies of Industrial Development of Characteristic Towns under the Rural Revitalization Strategy

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly pointed out that the most difficult and arduous task of building a socialist modern country in an all-round way is still in the countryside. As an important practical form of new urbanization, characteristic towns play a key role in the rural revitalization strategy. The construction of characteristic towns is a "complex ecosystem" integrating multiple fields such as industry, ecology, humanities, and space, which is highly consistent with the general requirements of the rural revitalization strategy. This paper takes Yuantan Brush Industry Town in Qianshan City, Anhui Province as an example to explore the difficulties and optimization strategies faced by its industrial development. Through literature review, field research and case analysis, the geographical and historical background, industrial development status and socio-economic conditions of Yuantan Brush Industry Town are first analyzed. The study found that Yuantan Brush Industry Town has obvious problems in terms of imperfect financial policies, unreasonable ecological zone division, insufficient incentives for professional talents and supporting policies. In response to these problems, this paper proposes a series of optimization strategies. First, enhance the degree of industrial agglomeration, promote cooperation between enterprises and the improvement of upstream and downstream industrial chains. Secondly, improve infrastructure, improve transportation conditions and living supporting facilities. Finally, increase policy support, ensure policy implementation and expand the scope of support. Through these measures, it is aimed to promote the sustainable development of Yuantan Brush Industry Town and achieve industrial upgrading and economic benefits. It is hoped that through the research in this article, experience can be provided for the development of characteristic towns in Anhui, the realization of the strategic goals of rural revitalization can be promoted, and the effective resolution and development of the "three rural" issues can be promoted.

Design and Implementation of Digital Protection and Communication Platform for Wangjiang Cross - Stitch from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization

Based on the rural revitalization strategy, an in - depth study on the digital protection and communication of Wangjiang cross - stitch is carried out. The traditional folk handicraft art of Wangjiang cross - stitch is preserved and recorded by means of the new form of digital technology communication. The constructed digital communication platform will present the characteristics such as the centralization of literature materials, the visualization of information presentation, and the diversification of cultural activities. On the one hand, this study conforms to the characteristics of the current era, satisfies people's spiritual needs to a certain extent, and enhances cultural confidence; on the other hand, it also promotes the development of the local economy.

Research on the path of industrial revitalization to promote rural revitalization

Industrial revitalization is the premise, foundation and key to achieving the rural revitalization strategy. Industrial revitalization is the primary task and central issue of the rural revitalization strategy. The Chinese medicinal materials industry covers the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, with a long industrial chain, high added value and strong driving force, and plays an important role in promoting rural economic and social development. Bozhou City is rich in Chinese medicinal resources, has a good foundation for the Chinese medicinal materials industry and distinctive characteristics. It is a dominant and characteristic industry and a people-enriching industry in Bozhou City and even Anhui Province. This paper investigates the development status of the rural Chinese medicinal materials industry in three counties and one district in Bozhou City, analyzes the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges of the Chinese medicinal materials industry in Bozhou City in promoting rural industrial revitalization. On this basis, a systematic and specific implementation path and guarantee system for the Chinese medicinal materials industry in Bozhou City to help rural industrial revitalization are designed, including top-level design, improving infrastructure construction, cultivating modern business organizations, integrating the development of Chinese medicinal materials industry, and strengthening the construction of various industrial chains of rural Chinese medicinal materials production, processing, warehousing and logistics, and brand marketing, etc., and building a guarantee system in four aspects: organizational coordination, financial support, talent training, and scientific and technological support.

The performance evaluation of homestead exit under the background of rural revitalization

The reform of rural residential land system was piloted in 2015. Then, the scope of the pilot was expanded in 2020. An important part of the reform of the homestead system is the homestead exit, which is also a basic and important front-end link in the reform of the homestead system. In this study, the four pilot area: Pengshan District, Ziyang City, Cuiping District and Luxian District, which are close to Chengdu City of Sichuan Province, were investigated and questionnaires were distributed to the farmers. Based on the research data, from the perspective of farmers, this study selects indicators from three aspects including economic benefits, social benefits and living environment to make sub-objective evaluation and comprehensive evaluation of homestead exit performance. In the calculation process, the entropy weight method is used to calculate the weight of each index and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to calculate the performance score. The research results show that the comprehensive performance of homestead exit in the surveyed areas is “good”, and the performance evaluation results are “average”, “good” and “good” respectively from the three aspects of economic benefits, social benefits and living environment.

Rural gentrification, the booming B&B industry and linked migration in China: To what extent can gentrification contribute to rural revitalisation?

AbstractAccompanying the functional transformation of rural areas from productivism to postproductivism, the rural areas with scenic views surrounding megacities are re‐evaluated in terms of their importance as destinations for visitors, especially in the case of booming bed and breakfast (B&B) industry in contemporary rural China. While private investment has generally led to improvements in the physical space and economic development of these villages, there is also concern about the negative effects of rural gentrification, such as the commercialisation of rural space, the alienation of rural culture and the displacement of indigenous residents. This study examines the multifaceted nature of rural gentrification by observing two villages within the Moganshan Mountain area—the birthplace of rural B&Bs in China, and explores how these processes have been leveraged to promote rural revitalisation. Research findings suggest that disparities in original resources and property rights allocation underpinning the B&B industries among the first‐wave gentrifiers and the local villagers, when viewed through the lens of linked migration, may lead to different socioeconomic outcomes. The B&B industry's growth can either be exclusive, primarily favouring gentrifiers, or complementary, fostering mutual benefits and learning opportunities for both gentrifiers and local villagers. Moreover, forming a collaborative network of rural villagers, returning migrants, and external elites can contribute to rural revitalisation through gentrification. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of rural gentrification by adding evidence from the Global South and provide insights to inform Chinese rural revitalisation policies, especially alternatives to traditional state‐led revitalisation projects.

Impact of e-commerce development on rural income: Evidence from counties in revolutionary old areas of China

Abstract Digital technology has enormous potential in rural revitalisation, thus providing impetus for improving the well-being of rural residents in underdeveloped areas. This study takes the policies of e-commerce in rural areas as an intervention in the development of e-commerce. It uses the panel data from 321 counties in the old revolutionary areas of China from 2003 to 2020 to empirically explore the impact of e-commerce development on the income of rural residents. Results show that e-commerce significantly improves the income and well-being of rural residents in old revolutionary areas. Propensity score matching and entropy balance matching are used to overcome group differences in covariate features, and the estimation results are consistently robust. In terms of mechanisms, e-commerce development increases per capita income in old revolutionary areas by promoting three aspects significantly: agricultural revitalisation, non-agricultural employment, and government support efforts. On the other hand, the heterogeneity analysis shows that e-commerce plays a diminishing role in increasing income in the eastern, central, and western regions.

Artistic interventions: Art, community, and media in China and beyond

Artistic interventions in communities have become increasingly prevalent in the context of quality-led urbanization and rural revitalization in China over the past decade. These art practices reflect a narrative of resistance toward the institutionalization, professionalization, and marketization of contemporary art through direct interventions in social reality. Community is the most common site from which public aesthetic action and social activism emerge to increase public awareness and promote community engagement. With the rise of new media technologies, multi-media have gradually been combined in socially engaged art projects, which has blurred the boundaries between concrete materials and virtual media as well as that between physical places and the online community. This article first outlines a literature review on the changing avant-garde spirit in both global and Chinese art history to better understand the concepts of artistic interventions. Second, as a major intervention in this field, the focus on community reflects the interflow of the theoretical search for communicative ethics and community reconstruction movements worldwide. Third, the role of the media in socially engaged art and its future implications are discussed. In the conclusion section, a variety of specific contexts in China and beyond and the various intervention aims and methods of five selected articles are introduced.

How does the method of farmland transfer affect the “non-grain” of farmland in China?

IntroductionThe phenomenon of “non-grain” of farmland poses a major threat to food security. Currently, there is still debate about the relationship between farmland transfer and the “non-grain” of farmland. Currently, there is no consensus on the relationship between farmland transfer and the non-grain use of farmland. This article focuses on the evolution of farmland transfer methods, examines the impact of farmland transfer methods on the non-grain use of farmland, and highlights the importance of effectively promoting farmland transfer, curbing the non-grain use of farmland, and ensuring food security.MethodsBased on the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) data, this paper uses probit and ivprobit models to estimate the causal relationship between farmland transfer methods and the “non-grain” of farmland. Grouped regressions are conducted from three dimensions of geographical environment, village governance, and economic development to test the heterogeneity of the impact of farmland transfer methods. Finally, the pathways of action are analyzed from the perspectives of farmers’ identity transformation and contract signing.ResultsThe organized transfer can significantly reduce the degree of “non-grain” of farmland, and its effect is stronger when the village party secretary has a higher level of education and also serves as the village head. This effect is mainly manifested through increasing the probability of farmers becoming new agricultural operators, joining cooperatives, signing formal contracts, and determining the lease term.DiscussionThe policy implications of this study emphasize that to curb the “non-grain” of farmland and ensure food security, it is important not only to increase the rate of farmland transfer but also to promote the organization of farmland transfer transactions. This includes facilitating the transfer of farmland from inefficient smallholders and cultivating new agricultural operators. Simultaneously, leveraging the supervisory and management role of village collectives can encourage farmers to sign more formal written contracts, clarify the purpose of farmland transfer, and supervise and manage the use of farmland during the subsequent contract execution stage. A limitation of this study is that it relies on cross-sectional data and does not observe the time variation of farmland transfer methods for the same farmers or their long-term impact on the “non-grain” of farmland.

Why is rural revitalization difficult to achieve? An in-context discussion of conceptual barriers to China’s 2018–2022 strategic plan

Why is rural revitalization difficult to achieve? An in-context discussion of conceptual barriers to China’s 2018–2022 strategic plan

Research on the Brand Spillover Effect and Regional Differences of Geographical Indication Agricultural Products in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan Regions of China under the Background of Rural Revitalization

[Purpose]This study aims to evaluate the role of the brand strategy for geographical indication(GI) agricultural products in rural revitalization, particularly through an empirical analysis of the brand spillover effects of GI agricultural products in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan provinces, thereby providing a scientific basis for agricultural high-quality development and rural revitalization strategy formulation. [Methodology]A quantitative analysis approach was employed, involving the collection and analysis of market data on GI agricultural products from the three provinces. This analysis assessed their market performance, brand effects, and their impact on agricultural economics and farmers' incomes. Furthermore, the specific role of regional disparities in shaping the brand spillover effects was explored. [Results]The study found that the overall performance of the GI agricultural product markets in the three provinces was positive, with notable brand spillover effects that significantly contributed to the promotion of agricultural economics. However, regional variations in brand development emerged, with cities like Xi'an, Datong, and Zhengzhou exhibiting particularly prominent brand effects, whereas other cities demonstrated less evident brand impacts, indicating a regionalized trend. [Conclusion] The study concludes that the brand spillover effects of GI agricultural products are positively correlated with rural revitalization development, serving as a crucial factor in enhancing agricultural competitiveness and promoting farmers' income. It is recommended that, in light of regional disparities, differentiated brand development strategies be adopted, accompanied by strengthened regional cooperation, to fully leverage the brand advantages of GI agricultural products and facilitate the in-depth implementation of rural revitalization strategies.