Dou Xuan-inspired mediation gains popularity in Shandong

Dou Xuan was an innovative democratic election method during the Agrarian Revolutionary War period (1927-37) in the liberated areas under the leadership of the Communist Party of China – and it's finding favor in modern Shandong province in East China.

Under the old system, each candidate had a bowl placed behind them and voters would cast their beans into the bowl behind the candidate they favored.

Today, in Qingyun town – located in Linshu county in Shandong – they've introduced a modern twist to the Dou Xuan concept as a mediation method.

This allows the community to independently select officials who can help address concerns, resolve their difficulties, and ease conflict.

The concept has gained national recognition as an advanced model of the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era, recognized by international media as an effective social governance plan deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

At the town's one-stop mediation center, they've established a platform to display information about officials. Residents can choose a trusted mediator through this platform or its app on WeChat.

Under the initiative, Qingyun town has mediated 206 conflicts so far this year, and over the past three years, they've witnessed a remarkable annual decrease of more than 20 percent in the number of disputes. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)