Call for grassroots democracy

In 1972, about 300 villagers elected Liu Zhihua to head the fifth group (later called Jinghua) in Dongjie village, Xinxiang county of Henan province. Liu and six other women as her deputies were the only nominees. Their job was to stop infighting among villagers and start farming in earnest so that they could grow enough food and earn enough cash to feed and clothe themselves. All the seemingly capable men had tried it but failed.

Nearly 40 years later, Liu, 69, remains - through general elections - at the helm of the group, seeing the small hamlet turned into a booming town of leisure travel, convention and a hub for trade and shopping. Its magnesium products are shipped to India, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands in addition to some 30 cities and provinces in China.

Last year, the village's disposable per capita income reached 30,000 yuan ($4,500). Almost all residents have traveled outside the province. Liu herself has visited many countries in the world.