Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In the spring of 2008, the atmosphere inside the Yancheng People's Hall was warm and welcoming as the city's "Two Sessions" were held as scheduled. Above the rostrum, a replica of the eight powerful characters "Rooted in the Old Revolutionary Base Areas, Working Hard to Revitalize the Nation" echoed the original scroll personally inscribed by the former leader. Zhou Jin, dressed in formal attire, stood before the report podium and delivered a weighty government work report to all the delegates.

"Distinguished delegates, the past two years have been two years of hard work and progress for Yancheng City in setting its sights on becoming a pilot city for a strong nation in science and technology; two years of in-depth advancement and fruitful results in building a service-oriented government; and two years of significant improvement in the sense of gain and happiness of the people in this old revolutionary base area. The following is a report on the work of the government for your review."

Zhou Jin's voice was steady and powerful, carrying throughout the venue through the microphone. Each set of data carried real weight and revealed a stark contrast with the situation across the province and the country:

I. Economic development has accelerated, with both total output and quality achieving significant leaps.

• GDP growth rate leads the province: In 2007, the city's GDP reached 586 billion yuan, an increase of 72% compared with two years ago, with an average annual growth rate of 18.3%, which was 3.5 percentage points higher than the province's average annual growth rate and 4.1 percentage points higher than the national average annual growth rate. The city's economic ranking in the province moved up two places, transforming from an old revolutionary base area into a regional economic growth pole.

• Investment-driven growth has yielded significant results: Total fixed asset investment reached 890 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 45.2%, far exceeding the provincial average of 34.3% and the national average of 26.1%. Among them, investment in science and technology industries, modern agriculture, and cultural tourism infrastructure accounted for 62%, and the investment structure continued to optimize, laying a solid foundation for long-term development.

• Investment attraction has seen both quantitative and qualitative improvements: A total of 156 projects have been signed, with actual investment reaching 32 billion yuan, a 210% increase compared to the previous two years; actual utilization of foreign capital reached 480 million US dollars, jumping from the bottom of the province two years ago to the fourth place, with a growth rate of 300%, far exceeding the average growth rate of foreign direct investment in the province, making it a benchmark for attracting foreign investment in the old revolutionary base areas of western China.

II. Technology empowers industrial upgrading, and pilot projects demonstrate significant effects.

• The apple industry has become a national benchmark: In cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, five standardized demonstration orchards have been built, and new technologies such as dwarf dense planting and water-saving irrigation have been promoted. The total apple output has reached 1.8 million tons, an increase of 25% compared with two years ago, accounting for 32% of the province's total apple output. The deep processing rate has increased from 12% to 35%, and 12 types of products such as juice, vinegar, and dried fruit have been developed. The total output value of the industry has exceeded 12 billion yuan, driving an increase of 1800 yuan in farmers' per capita fruit industry income. Yancheng apples have been rated as a national geographical indication product, with a brand value of 86 billion yuan.

• Leading the way in digital transformation: In collaboration with the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, the city has built the nation's first digital platform for red tourism, enabling functions such as VR panoramic tours of revolutionary sites and online study tour reservations. This has driven the digital transformation coverage rate of large-scale industrial enterprises in the city to reach 40%, which is 18 percentage points higher than the provincial average. The added value of high-tech industries accounts for 16.8% of GDP, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than the national average.

• Initial results of capital layout: Overseas technology investment projects participated in through the Huayao platform have steadily increased in value, and the related revenue has been used to support local industries, leading to the establishment of three industrial funds with a total scale of NT$25 billion, which focus on supporting start-ups in semiconductor supporting industries, new energy, etc. 23 high-tech enterprises have been cultivated, two of which have been selected into the provincial list of "specialized, refined and innovative" enterprises.

III. Cultural and tourism integration brings new life, and red brands resonate throughout the country.

• A double boom in tourist numbers and revenue: A total of 2860 million tourists were received over two years, generating 215 billion yuan in tourism revenue, representing increases of 60% and 80% respectively compared to the previous two years. This growth rate was 42 percentage points higher than the province's average annual tourism revenue growth rate and 45 percentage points higher than the national average. Among these, the digital transformation project for red tourism (tourism focused on revolutionary history) boosted the proportion of immersive experience tourists to 35%. Core scenic spots such as the Yancheng Revolutionary Memorial Hall and Yangjialing saw an average annual visitor count exceeding 500 million, ranking among the top ten popular red tourism destinations in the country.

• Business innovation revitalizes the market: 10 blockbuster products such as the "Ode to Yanshi" live performance and red-themed study tour summer camps have been created, driving a 120% increase in revenue for the catering, accommodation, and cultural and creative industries around the scenic area. 830 new service enterprises have been added, with the growth rate 28 percentage points higher than the average level of creative cultural tourism in the province. The number of tourism employees has reached 6.8, doubling the number from two years ago.

IV. People's well-being continues to improve, and the foundation of happiness is more prominent.

• Farmers' income growth leads the western region: The per capita net income of rural residents reached 5200 yuan, an increase of 98% compared with two years ago, with an average annual growth rate of 34.3%, which is 18.6 percentage points higher than the average annual growth rate of rural residents' income in the province and 19.2 percentage points higher than the national average annual growth rate. This has completely reversed the situation where farmers' income in old revolutionary base areas was lower than the national and provincial averages. Among them, wage income accounted for 42%, becoming the primary driver of income growth.

• Comprehensive infrastructure upgrade: 23 billion yuan was invested to complete livelihood projects such as hardening urban and rural roads and ensuring safe drinking water. All townships are connected by expressways and administrative villages are connected by fiber optics. The rural tap water coverage rate reached 95%, which is 8 percentage points higher than the provincial average. 18 new or expanded schools and 12 hospitals were built. County-level medical communities have achieved full coverage. The medical insurance participation rate reached 99.2%, which is 2.5 percentage points higher than the national average.

• Solid and effective employment security: 4.2 new urban jobs were created, and the urban registered unemployment rate was kept at 3.1%, which was 0.8 percentage points lower than the provincial average and 1.1 percentage points lower than the national average, respectively. Relying on investment projects and industrial upgrading, 3.6 local workers were employed, and the return rate of migrant workers reached 28%, realizing the vision of "employment at one's doorstep".

V. Improved business environment and social security have strengthened the foundation for development.

•服务型政府建设见实效：「一站式服务大厅」整合28个部门156项审批事项，平均审批时限从27个工作日压缩至5个工作日，较全省平均审批效率快3倍，企业满意度达98.5%，在全省营商环境评价中从第10位跃升至第2位。

• The public security environment continues to improve: the crime rate has decreased by 42% compared to two years ago, which is 15 percentage points higher than the provincial average and 18 percentage points higher than the national average. There have been zero major safety accidents at construction sites and zero major disputes in scenic areas. The city has been recognized as a "Provincial Model City for Safe City Construction," making it easier for businesses to be attracted, retained, and thrive.

At the podium, Zhou Jin raised his hand to signal, his gaze sweeping across the entire room: "Distinguished delegates, these achievements are inseparable from the kind care of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, and even more so from the joint efforts of the people of the city. The old leader's exhortation to 'take root in the old revolutionary base areas and work hard to revitalize the country' has been transformed into a vivid practice on the land of Yan'an."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly firm: "Currently, Yancheng City stands at a new historical starting point. We will continue to deepen our efforts in technology empowerment, industrial upgrading, and improvement of people's livelihoods, striving to achieve a GDP exceeding 1000 billion yuan, a high-tech industry added value accounting for 25% of total GDP, and a per capita net income for farmers exceeding 8000 yuan within the next three years, allowing this old revolutionary base area to write a new chapter of glory on the journey to a technologically strong nation!"

As the words fell, thunderous applause erupted in the meeting hall, lasting for a long time. The delegates' report books were covered with dense annotations and markings, a testament to the weight of this achievement. Zhou Jin looked at the calligraphy above the podium, understanding dawning on her: the hard work and fruitful results of the past two years were not only an explanation to the people of the old revolutionary base area, but also the best response to the earnest entrustment of the former leader.

Amid the applause, Zhou Jin seemed to see the heavy fruits in the apple orchards of Yanshi, the smiling faces of tourists in the red tourism scenic area, the busy workers in the workshop, and even more so, the infinite possibilities for the future of the old revolutionary base area.