Powering century-old village to revive and prosper

In Henan province's Taiqian county where the Yellow River meets the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the century-old village of Jiangzhuang is quietly coming back to life.

Jiangzhuang was once a ferry settlement, but was stranded when the Yellow River shifted course. Its earthen walls and gray-tiled roofs are still etched with the memory of floods and displacement.

Today, anchored to Taiqian's brand vision of "Pearl of the Yellow River • Legacy of the Grand Canal • Phoenix Taiqian", the village is renewing itself according to the principle that not a single old house is demolished, and not a single ancient tree is felled.

Over a dozen century-old rammed-earth courtyards have been painstakingly restored — their raw loess-and-wheat-straw texture preserved, while smart electrical systems are woven in — forming a livable, experiential cluster of "Yellow River lifestyle" homestays.

Beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance, intangible heritage masters lead fabric-dyeing and pottery workshops. Along the restored canal waterfront, warm string lights shimmer against starlight and river reflections after dusk — serene and inviting.

Electricity has been the invisible pillar of this transformation. As part of State Grid Henan Electric Power Company's support for the local cultural tourism initiative, State Grid Puyang Power Supply Company has moved its service desk to the front lines. Factoring in the combined electrical load of homestay heating, all-electric kitchens, and nightscape lighting, the company designed a tailored power supply plan — delivering stable voltage during peak tourism and providing the constant temperature and humidity essential for pottery kilns and heritage textile studios.

During peak season, homestay managers can summon on-demand electrical support with a single tap on the "Find an Electrician" WeChat mini-program — the backend responds instantly, dispatching technicians to resolve every request. The service extends beyond the village to surrounding cherry orchards and eco-restaurants, covering cold storage, agro-processing, and all-electric kitchens — ensuring not a single link in the agri-tourism chain ever falters for want of power.

Since the renovation, holiday occupancy has topped 80 percent and the village's collective income has quadrupled compared with that three years ago. Every kilowatt-hour of electricity continues to power this land's rebirth, in the gentlest way — lighting not just the path home, but the possibilities ahead.