How the 'Red Flag Canal Spirit' shaped a villager's passion for cultural relics

Pointing to a wooden tool in a glass cabinet, Liu recalled the arduous task of lifting stones with a group of four, even on steep mountainsides. He proudly shared that he dedicated three years of his youth to this laborious endeavor.

"It was meaningful to build the 70-kilometer canal during the early years of New China to solve drought that plagued locals for centuries," he added.

This spirit influenced the locals, including the museum's founder.

Inspired by the moving stories shared by elders about the Red Flag Canal during his childhood, Wang said it made him interested in collecting the cultural relics of the canal.

Each exhibit was the carrier of the spirit of the Red Flag Canal, telling people's perseverance. "People who have built the Red Flag Canal could relive their memories here, and we also have the responsibility to cherish and pass them on," Wang said.

Qi Xin in Zhengzhou contributed to this story.