Randy Olson, Melissa Farlow Photography

Image 1 of 1
Less

RANDY OLSON_MM7493_1176514.jpg

Add to Lightbox Download

Rows of identical two-story villas with tile roofs, manicured lawns and two-car garages show an extraordinary period of development in China. Huaxi Village, seen from the air, was referred to as the "richest village in China." Known for its economic prosperity, it was once honored as a model of socialist economy.

Huaxi was an agrarian hovel, reachable by dirt roads. Its success is due to one man Wu Renbao, a farmer and village patriarch who got his start in the early days of the Deng reforms by setting up a factory in to make fertilizer spray bottles. As years passed, Wu started factories, and farmers worked in them secretly since they had no windows. When government officials inspected, workers ran out into the fields and pretended to be peasants. They became the first and most successful capitalist exploitation of the collective.

Farmers Village, founded in 1961, has run a multi-sector industry company that by the early 21st century included over 80 companies. Huaxi Group's iron and steel and non-ferrous metals are the largest source of income, but it also oversees tobacco, textile and real estate and other companies. By 2004, the per capita annual salary of Huaxi villagers reached nearly 42 times the per capita income of farmers in the country. After 2008, Huaxi’s steel industry declined and in 2021, Huaxi Village went into bankruptcy. The villages hopes tourism will be the next booming industry.

In a throwback to Mao's days, all residents receive free health care, education and pensions-something many other Chinese have lost in the transition to capitalism. It is set up as a working village where everyone works seven days a week and there is little entertainment like bars, internet cafes and has strict social guidelines.

Copyright
RANDY OLSON
Image Size
18000x11672 / 142.5MB
Keywords
Contained in galleries
China's Bling Dynasty_National Geographic Magazine 5/2008
Rows of identical two-story villas with tile roofs, manicured lawns and two-car garages show an extraordinary period of development in China. Huaxi Village, seen from the air, was referred to as the "richest village in China." Known for its economic prosperity, it was once honored as a model of socialist economy.<br /> <br /> Huaxi was an agrarian hovel, reachable by dirt roads. Its success is due to one man Wu Renbao, a farmer and village patriarch who got his start in the early days of the Deng reforms by setting up a factory in to make fertilizer spray bottles. As years passed, Wu started factories, and farmers worked in them secretly since they had no windows. When government officials inspected, workers ran out into the fields and pretended to be peasants. They became the first and most successful capitalist exploitation of the collective. <br /> <br /> Farmers Village, founded in 1961, has run a multi-sector industry company that by the early 21st century included over 80 companies. Huaxi Group's iron and steel and non-ferrous metals are the largest source of income, but it also oversees tobacco, textile and real estate and other companies. By 2004, the per capita annual salary of Huaxi villagers reached nearly 42 times the per capita income of farmers in the country. After 2008, Huaxi’s steel industry declined and in 2021, Huaxi Village went into bankruptcy. The villages hopes tourism will be the next booming industry.<br /> <br /> In a throwback to Mao's days, all residents receive free health care, education and pensions-something many other Chinese have lost in the transition to capitalism. It is set up as a working village where everyone works seven days a week and there is little entertainment like bars, internet cafes and has strict social guidelines.