Rural vitalization: Live and empowering

In March 2024, authorities in Tieling organized a series of training sessions for over 100 village-level first secretaries on topics such as new media technology and livestreaming, aiming to encourage them to promote local economic development through online platforms.

"The training helped me a lot. While I picked up technical skills, I also realized that the internet can drive economic growth and benefit the local people," Hu said.

In May last year, Hu did his first livestream on Hejiaxin's vast grasslands. "The two-hour session attracted some viewers," he said. "I kept talking as I wanted, introducing the beautiful scenery and local specialties of the village."

There has been no turning back. Hu continues to livestream from the grasslands, and has added memorial halls and farms to his location list. To date, he has helped villagers sell agricultural produce, such as sweet potatoes, corn and garlic sprouts, worth over 50,000 yuan ($7,375).

Hu often has his livestream audiences riveted to the screen with stories about the ancient river, the revolutionary history of Hejiaxin and the village's grassland customs, striving to create a characteristic cultural tourism IP.

In June last year, he planned and organized a grassland kite festival, featuring big displays, parent-child DIY sessions, folk experiences and internet celebrity check-ins.

Through livestreaming, short-videos and a comprehensive network matrix, Hejiaxin attracted over 30,000 tourists during the three-day festival, transforming the once sleepy village into a popular rural tourism spot in northern Liaoning.