Story of sacrifice draws people to village

BEIJING－A village in Beijing's hilly northern outskirts is experiencing a mini tourism boom thanks to the story of a heroic mother who resisted Japanese troops.

Zheng Yan's brightly decorated villa in Zhangjiafen village, Miyun district, attracted holidaymakers on a recent weekend after the second COVID-19 outbreak waned in the capital. "I am living a quite fulfilling life here," the 37-year-old said, adding that all the villagers earned enough money not to worry about food or clothing.

Zheng started her bed and breakfast business seven years ago and has ridden the rising wave of rural tourism, earning about 80,000 yuan ($11,400) a year.

Around 40 households in the village running similar business can thank Deng Yufen for the interest in Zhangjiafen.

The village was off most people's radars until the story emerged of Deng and her family, and what they went through over 80 years ago.

A few kilometers from modern day Zhangjiafen are shattered stone shelters scattered in a mountain forest. In 1933, when the Japanese troops took over Miyun, the villagers fled into the mountains to escape persecution. Deng was among them.

Five of her seven sons fought the Japanese, and four of them lost their lives. She suffered further tragedy when her husband also died in the war.

"My great-grandma grieved but was never crushed," said Deng's great-grandson Ren Hongwei. "She was determined to do more to safeguard her motherland."

In 2012, a statue of Deng was erected by the Miyun district government to commemorate her sacrifices and contributions to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

"Her spirit has encouraged all the villagers here, and they are working hard toward a better life despite difficulties and hardship," Zheng said.

"In the meantime, inspired by her story, many tourists come to visit this village, which further helps boost the tourism industry while increasing our incomes."

Apart from Deng's tale of sacrifice, the village boasts magnificent scenery and visitors escape to its cooler climate in summers. Last year, Zhangjiafen attracted 30,000 tourists from home and abroad.

"Nestled in the hills and surrounded by water, this place has drawn a great number of visitors," said Zheng Yunlong, Party chief of Zhangjiafen.

"In 2010, some villagers came up with the idea of running B&Bs so that tourists could stay overnight rather than rushing to leave before nightfall."

He said the idea evolved with support from the village and the township government, which helped set up a tourism cooperative to assist more residents to start B&Bs.

Thanks to its rapid development, the per capita net income of the village reached around 29,000 yuan in 2019, with all the villagers moving into new villas.

"Our village has witnessed both the history and tremendous changes in China over the past decades," Zheng Yunlong said.

"We will continue to contribute to China's goal to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects."

Xinhua