Chongqing- At the CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2021, director of the Zhuxian Town Village Committee and party branch secretary Mao Xianglin from Wushan County, Chongqing, was praised live on television as a model of the times in a special appearance, just moments after the bell had chimed for the Chinese New Year.

His title was awarded on November 18 last year in Xiazhuang Village, 1,500 kilometers away from the performance arena in Beijing. As local villagers watched the Spring Festival Gala together, and couldn’t help but applaud once they saw their village committee director, who has brought the formerly poverty stricken community a modern life of prosperity.

Local villager Huang Yugao spoke with deep contentment on the occasion, “This is a great honor for the people of Xiazhuang, and I feel very happy for them.” He then recalled infrastructure projects in the village, “without the leadership of Director Mao, it would have been very difficult to build the cliffside access road.”

Fellow villager Peng Rensong with elation, “The new road has made a great difference!” In 2020, he earned about 7,750 US dollars through growing citrus fruit, watermelon and wheat, in addition to working as a laborer. Now the village is developing rural tourism, he also plans to open a farm guesthouse.

Mao Xianglin has not only led the way in building roads, but has also developed the local economy based on rural tourism, fostered the cultural refinement of villagers, as well as boosting their confidence and aspirations. The emerald waters and lush mountains have truly become a source natural and monetary wealth.

The son of Mao Lianjun was equally excited as he watched his father appear live on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. “My father is a role model for the times, and I’m so proud that he appeared on the broadcast.”

Mao Lianjun added that his father has always been a role model in his heart, and wishes him lasting health in his old age.