China, a vast and magical country, shoulders a long history and endless legends. In this land, there are many places known as "the first village in the world", among which Zhou Village in Shandong and Huaxi Village in Jiangsu have attracted much attention. The two "No. 1 Villages in the World" are quite similar in name, but they have completely different directions in terms of development trajectory.
Zhoucun: The light of Lu merchants, a witness to the prosperity of ancient commerce
Let's first set foot in Zhoucun in Shandong, which is known as the "dry wharf" and "Jinzhou Village", which is ancient and mysterious. After the commercial sprouts of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, and the development of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the Qianlong Emperor visited it in person, and could not help but crown it as "the first village in the world". This honor made the reputation of Zhoucun completely spread all over the world and became a treasure of commerce.
In Zhoucun, business is not only an activity, but also a gene. Its business is prosperous, and its commercial strength cannot be underestimated. From the Donglaisheng Silk Cloth Village in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty to the ancient ** of Zhoucun today, Zhoucun has always been the center of commerce. What was once a big dyeing workshop has now become a part of the history of Zhou Village, witnessing the commercial splendor of this ancient village.
However, it would be too narrow to say that Zhoucun is just a village. Today's Zhoucun is already a district, and it is a witness of an ancient commercial civilization. The history of Zhoucun has long gone beyond a single rural identity and has become the hometown of silk in northern China and the birthplace of Lu merchants, showing the glory and prosperity of ancient commerce.
Huaxi Village: A model of modern agriculture and a miracle of common prosperity
Out of Shandong, I came to Huaxi Village in Jiangsu. Although it is also known as the "No. 1 village in the world", it is obviously a rising star compared to Zhou Village. In the development context of Huaxi Village, what we see is a model of modern agriculture and a miracle of common prosperity.
In the sixties of the last century, Huaxi Village was just a poor village. However, through years of hard work, it has become bigger, more beautiful, and richer. In 2010, the per capita income of the village reached 850,000 yuan, becoming a model of national leadership. In the process of development, Huaxi Village has explored diversified operations such as modern agriculture and modern factories, which provides a reference experience for rural areas across the country to move towards common prosperity.
The success of Huaxi Village is not accidental, and its emphasis on modern agriculture has given new life to this once poor village. Today, Huaxi Village has become a popular destination for Xi.
The reason why Zhoucun and Huaxi Village are known as "the first village in the world" is inseparable from a common element - "rich". However, they differ in their direction of development, which stems from their respective historical origins.
Zhoucun has experienced a long process of ancient development, while Huaxi Village has risen in modern society, and the difference between the two lies in the time background and historical process of development.
As for which village is more worthy of the name "the first village in the world", different people look at it from different angles, and the answers given are also very different. Perhaps, this is the embodiment of the unique charm of these two villages.
As for who is the veritable "No. 1 village in the world", from different angles, people's answers are not the same, I don't know what you think?List of high-quality authors