Lin Guorong (3rd R) holds a discussion with local officials and villagers under an iconic camphor tree in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. Lin Guorong is a deputy to the People’s Congress of Yuhang District in Hangzhou. He has 35 years’ working experience in Xiaogucheng Village, where he now serves as the Party secretary, devoted to the village’s development.
At the entrance of the village stands an iconic camphor tree. A wooden plaque hanging from one of its branches reads “Deliberations under the camphor tree,” evoking the local practice of whole-process people’s democracy among villagers in Xiaogucheng. The village has introduced an innovative democratic consultation mechanism, encouraging villagers to actively participate in grassroots governance. As a result, many issues have been successfully resolved through collective discussions. For example, a village wall renovation plan involved 227 participants and 12 revised proposals before reaching a final consensus.
The village has boosted governance efficiency at the grassroots level by “letting everyone discuss matters that concern everyone,” achieving an integration of public opinion, collective wisdom, and community manpower. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong drives a car in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong (4th R) holds a discussion with local officials and villagers under an iconic camphor tree in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong checks the growth of tea at a tea plantation in a village cooperative in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong (L) solicits suggestions from a villager in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong bids farewell to visitors leaving Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong talks about the innovative democratic consultation mechanism carried out in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong (3rd R) talks about the innovative democratic consultation mechanism carried out in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Lin Guorong (L) solicits suggestions from a villager in Xiaogucheng Village of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
