From mountain to town: Relocation brings Baiku Yao people new lease of life

00:0004:26

Listen to this story read by AI voice.

Located in the northwestern part of Guangxi, Nandan County is noted for the Baiku Yao People, or the White-Pants Yao People, an ethnic minority known for their white-colored pants. The minority has kept its culture intact, and is dubbed as "living fossils of human civilization."

China has about 50,000 Baiku Yao People, and 42,000 of them are now living in Nandan County. During China’s 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), more than 23,000 Baiku Yao People in Nandan were registered as poverty-stricken, accounting for nearly half of the county's poor population.

Past: An aerial view of Mogantun, a hamlet in Dongjia Village of Lihu Yao Township, Jan. 18, 2018.

Present: An aerial view of a poverty-relief relocation site where the Baiku Yao villagers from Mogantun have moved in Nandan County, Aug. 4, 2020.

Many of the Baiku Yao People used to live in hard-to-reach hamlets scattered in the bare rock mountains. The towering mountains blocked people and services from the outside, and kept the reclusive mountain dwellers impoverished for generations.

Past: A view of Baiku Yao villager Lu Laoqiao's old residence in Renguang Village of Lihu Yao Township, Jan. 12, 2018.

Present: Lu (2nd L) and his family pose for a photo in front of their new house at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County, Aug. 5, 2020.

For Lu Laoqiao, 50, leaving his old home was a difficult decision. “I grew up in the mountains. Our parents had always lived here. So had our cattle and pigs,” he said. To better take care of his daughter who will attend the junior high school in town, Lu was finally at peace with his decision and moved with his family into the resettlement site.

Back in the mountain-locked villages, road access was inadequate, and most of the time people had no other choice but walking since many roads were either paved by dirt or small stones, which made the vehicles very bumpy and could barely get through.

Past: Baiku Yao villager Wei Jinlin (R, rear) and his grandchildren pose for a photo with their old residence in Dongjia Village of Lihu Yao Township, Jan. 11, 2018.

Present: Wei (1st R) and his son stand on the balcony of their new house at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County, Aug. 5, 2020.

Though reluctant to move at first, Wei Jinlin, a 70-year-old resident who had lived in the bare rock mountains for decades, was gradually embracing the new life in the resettlement site. His son and daughter-in-law, once earning a living in remote Guangdong Province, have come back to settle down in the resettlement site and plan to work for a local tourism project, which is now under construction.

In the past, local people had to live in huts made of wood or mud and their household items were simple and old. When it rained, the houses leaked and wind blew through.

The acute shortage of drinking water and arable soil was another challenge for the mountain inhabitants. They had to collect rainwater in water tanks for daily use. Facing limited arable land for crops because of barren soil, locals eked out a living by growing corn in the cracks of the rock mountains.

Past: Baiku Yao villager Lu Laoqiao fetches water from a water tank in Renguang Village of Lihu Yao Township.

Present: Lu does the dishes with tap water in the kitchen of his new residence at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County.

As the rock mountains were not suitable for living, the local government decided to relocate the Baiku Yao People to help lift them out of poverty.

In 2017, the county government started a resettlement project that involved a total of 1.37 billion yuan (about 197 million U.S. dollars) of investment to build three major resettling residential districts in the county to accommodate the ethnic people. Finally, about 13,500 people moved there.

A resident rides a motorcycle out of a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people in Nandan County.

More than 2,400 new houses were built with cultural features of the Baiku Yao People, with bronze drums and oxhorns painted on the walls. The new houses are equipped with gas, tap water, flush toilet and a variety of furnishings.

Past: Baiku Yao villager Lu Laoai returns home with firewood used as cooking fuel in Renguang Village of Lihu Yao Township.

Present: Lu cooks with electronic kitchen appliances in his new house at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County.

Lu Laoai, 39, and his 34-year-old wife He Guiying were content with the new house. Having worked outside their hometown for years, the couple quickly adapted to the new life at the relocation site.

Lu Laoai’s wife He Guiying weaves cloth in her new house at a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people in Nandan County.

Past: Baiku Yao villager Lu Laoqiao grinds corn with a stone grinder at his old residence in Renguang Village of Lihu Yao Township.

Present: Lu puts rice into an electric rice cooker in his new house at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County.

Kindergartens, primary and middle schools and hospitals have also been in place in these districts. With paved roads, a motorcycle ride to the county seat takes nearly half an hour.

A primary school near a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people in Nandan County.

A view of a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people in Nandan County.

Two boys play whipping tops at a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people in Nandan County.

Most of those residing in the mountains moved into the county center, beginning a new phase of life.

While lifting people out of poverty was the first step, efforts have also been made to ensure the relocated residents to settle down, have jobs, earn money and lead better lives.

Past: Baiku Yao villager Li Zhiming (rear) and his family carry their belongings while moving out of Baha Village of Baxu Yao Township, Feb. 4, 2018.

Present: Li (1st R) and his family walk out of their new house at a poverty-relief relocation site in Nandan County, Aug. 6, 2020.

Li Zhiming, 50, landed a job at a nearby tea-oil tree plantation after his family moved from their dilapidated bungalow in the mountains to a new two-storey residential building at the relocation site. He earns around 140 yuan (about 20 U.S. dollars) per day as a major source of his family income.

Li Zhiming tends tea-oil trees at a tea-oil tree plantation in Baxu Yao Township of Nandan County.

Village doctor Li Mou (1st L) pays a visit to Li Zhiming's family at a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao People in Nandan County.

In the resettlement sites, poverty-alleviation workshops have been established and industries have been developed according to local conditions, ensuring a steady source of income for the relocated residents.

Local authorities are betting on tourism to empower the Baiku Yao People. For instance, the three relocation districts have also become tourist attractions with ethnic cultures.

A view of a poverty-relief relocation site for the Baiku Yao people and an adjacent tourist attraction under construction in Nandan County.

Locals have been encouraged to do ethnic performances for tourists and develop homestays. Wearing their distinctive white pants, the Baiku Yao People fire guns in the air, play drums and whip tops to welcome tourists from afar.

By far, most of the impoverished Baiku Yao People in the county have bid farewell to poverty.

Zhou Hua

Born on Oct. 24, 1977, Zhou Hua has been working as photojournalist at Xinhua News Agency Guangxi Branch since July 2001. His coverage focuses on poverty-relief efforts, the Belt and Road Initiative and other human development issues.

Lu Boan

Lu Boan was born in August 1976, and began working as photojournalist at Xinhua News Agency Guangxi Branch in December 2011. He spends most of his time photographing rural teachers and the development of ethnic cultures.

Producers: Wang Jianhua, Xue Dongmei

Editors: Lin Fanjng, Chen Liqun, Li Mangmang, Cui Bowen, Wang Siwei, Yu Yang, Meng Tao, Lian Yi

Web Designers: Peng Yuhe, Wang Yiliang

Better houses, better lives: relocation brings happiness to villagers in Guangxi

Northern Chinese villages under anti-poverty programs: past vs. present

010020050640000000000000011200000000000000

POVERTY RELIEF ALBUM

新华社摄影部、新华网 联合出品