Youth redefine local heritage in 2025

Editor's Note: In 2025, China's youth are crafting a new cultural narrative — not by following a timeline, but by mapping it across the country. This annual review shifts the focus from chronology to geography, capturing a regional resurgence through nine compelling stories. From digital village builders to Tibetan language songwriters, from Cantonese advocates to rural revitalizers, young people are rediscovering and reinterpreting local heritage. They are not merely inheritors of tradition but active creators of it. This report highlights how a new generation is planting its future in native soil, forging a dynamic connection between youth and homeland.

Hebei

An increasing number of young people are returning to the fields, transforming agriculture by leveraging technology to boost grain production.

Laoting county in Hebei province is known for its vast saline-alkali lands, where traditional farming methods are labor-intensive and often yield low results.

A group of local young people, with an average age of 29, has replaced experience-based farming with data-driven management, turning once-barren land into fertile ground.

Duan Yanyan, a hardware engineer on the team, integrated Internet of Things technology, programming, and smart machinery into field management. Automated valves, remote-controlled water pumps, and drones have taken over much of the manual labor, reducing costs while enabling digital monitoring of crop growth.

Beyond production, the team has expanded into agricultural support services. Wei Mingzhao explained that they collaborate with agricultural research institutes to trial new crops, helping local farmers optimize their cultivation practices.

"Sometimes our work is physically tiring and demanding," said Li Zhiguo. "But its value is essential. Agriculture is the foundation of national development, and ensuring food security is key to securing the country's future."