In an exclusive interview, journalist Miao Chao explores the remarkable transformation of a village along the China-Vietnam border, with a special focus on the Lahu ethnic group in Luxi County, Yunnan.

“Growing up, we lived in makeshift shelters in the forest. My father hunted while my mother foraged for wild fruits,” recalls 33-year-old Wang Jianshe, reflecting on his childhood. Today, he resides in a two-story building made of steel reinforcements, concrete, and bricks in Datou, a Lahu village within Pinghe Township in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

Wang’s village is a prime example of a “direct transition minority,” having shifted directly from a primitive lifestyle to a socialist society. The community currently consists of 33 households and 184 residents.

“We Lahu people once relied entirely on nature. We didn’t grow crops or raise poultry; our lives revolved around hunting and gathering wild fruits and medicinal herbs from the jungle,” Wang explains. This lifestyle kept them largely disconnected from the modern world.

He reminisces about their makeshift huts, built from wood, broken tiles, and plastic sheets, which afforded little protection from the elements. His family would move their home whenever they found a promising hunting ground, making their living situation extremely transient. “We had just one pot and a few broken bowls as our belongings, and we slept on the ground, completely unaware of things like towels or toothbrushes,” he shares.

Wang did not start attending elementary school until age 14, requiring a three-hour trek from home. To facilitate his education, he moved into a dormitory and returned home on weekends. “My Chinese teacher gave me the name ‘Wang Jianshe,’ based on its phonetic translation. I found my studies difficult and dropped out after the fifth grade,” he admits. At 22, he moved to Guangzhou for work, and the transition from forest life to city life was overwhelming. “I got lost multiple times, even ending up on overpasses without knowing how to get off.”

During his nine years in the city, his hometown underwent significant changes. As part of China’s poverty alleviation initiatives, local authorities invested in the Lahu village, leveling land and constructing 33 new homes. Once the houses were built, teams encouraged those still living in the mountains to relocate for a more stable lifestyle.

However, moving was just the first step; the real challenge was increasing income through sustainable practices. With guidance from local work teams, villagers began cultivating organic tea, red rice, chili peppers, and free-range chickens. By the end of 2019, the average annual income per person reached 3,750 yuan, officially lifting the village out of poverty.

After 2020, the Lahu village also tapped into lucrative projects like black fungus and fragrant mushrooms. By 2023, the annual income per person had surged to 16,621 yuan, marking an impressive 343% increase since 2019.

Wang Jianshe was continually astonished each time he returned from Guangzhou, witnessing firsthand the dramatic changes: what was once a simple hut had transformed into a small villa. His parents learned to wash their faces, brush their teeth, and use rice cookers, while other villagers traded their bows and arrows for farming and livestock.

Inspired by his hometown’s progress, Wang decided to return and contribute to its growth. In May 2022, he moved back with his girlfriend from Guangzhou, and together, they initiated projects like free-range chicken farming and cultivating specialty herbs like Sanqi and Chonglou. “Our climate and soil are ideal for agriculture and animal husbandry. By developing unique industries, we can create more income opportunities for our villagers,” he concludes.