Benli Village

Benli Village

Benli Village: A place that evokes memories. It is home to the Hongqi Agricultural Cooperative, the earliest and largest advanced agricultural cooperative in Hainan after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. A stone slab engraved with a quote from Chairman Mao can be seen in a prominent spot in the village, sure to stir up many memories of that era. At the same time, the village’s beautiful environment, neat roads, make it feel like stepping into a rural park — refreshing and enchanting, a place you won’t want to leave. Want to experience it? Starting from Haikou, head along the Dongfang East Line of National Highway 223 and you’ll arrive at the 31-kilometer mark.

Benli Village in Hongqi Town, Qiongshan District, Haikou City, currently has 67 households and a population of 319. In recent years, the village has vigorously strengthened the development of a civilized and ecological community. It has been recognized as a “Drug-Free Village,” “Qualified Family Planning Village,” “Credit Village,” and “Advanced Collective in the Virtue in the Countryside Campaign” by the city and district governments, and as a “Demonstration Village for Civilized and Ecological Construction” by the provincial government. It has also been selected as a provincial demonstration site for agricultural mechanization and safe agricultural machinery use.

Benli Village is a veteran revolutionary base area with a proud revolutionary tradition. During the revolutionary war years, the villagers of Benli actively participated in the struggle, making significant contributions to the victory of the revolution. In the spring of 1954, under the correct leadership of the Hainan Regional Party Committee and the Qiongshan County Party Committee, the farmers of Benli, eager for rural development and prosperity, were pioneers in establishing a small agricultural cooperative. In October of the same year, the Qiongshan County Party Committee built the Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative on the foundation of three primary cooperatives: Benli, Benlihu, and Dawan. After one year of development, it was upgraded to an advanced agricultural production cooperative in early 1956. This was the largest agricultural cooperative in Hainan at the time and played a positive role in rural development, exerting considerable influence and becoming a flagship for agricultural progress in the region. On October 10, 1955, Chairman Mao Zedong gave his endorsement of the Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative: “The experience of the Hongqi Cooperative on Hainan Island also proves that it is most advantageous to establish large and advanced cooperatives. This large cooperative, which is only a year old, is already preparing to upgrade to an advanced one. Of course, this does not mean that all cooperatives must follow this path; they must still assess whether their own conditions are ripe and decide when it is appropriate to merge and upgrade. But generally speaking, about three years should be sufficient. The important thing is to set an example for the peasants. When they see that large and advanced cooperatives are more beneficial than small and basic ones, they will demand mergers and upgrades.” (Excerpt from the editorial note written by Chairman Mao Zedong for the essay “The Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative of Qiongshan County’s First District Has Consolidated Itself in the Struggle Against Natural Disasters and Capitalist Ideology,” included in Chairman Mao’s edited work “The Socialist Upsurge in China’s Countryside.”) During the establishment of the Hongqi Cooperative, central leaders such as Li Lisan, Tao Zhu, Secretary of the South China Bureau, as well as leaders from the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Government, and the Hainan Regional Party Committee, visited the cooperative to observe and provide guidance.

In recent years, with the care and support of provincial, municipal, and district leaders and relevant departments, the cadres and villagers of Benli have continued to uphold their glorious traditions, keeping pace with the times, pioneering and innovating. They have taken the creation of a civilized and ecological village as an important vehicle for building a new socialist countryside. In 2005, a development plan for the civilized and ecological village was formulated, with 710,000 yuan invested, 8,600 person-days of labor contributed by villagers, 26 old houses demolished, 32 cattle and pig pens relocated, and over 300 truckloads of garbage and rubble cleared. Three 700-meter-long village loop roads, 400 meters of retaining walls, and 14 drainage ditches totaling 2,800 meters were constructed, along with 18 hardened village lanes totaling over 3,600 meters. A lotus pond, a coconut grove, and 14 leisure spots were built; 24 biogas pits and 42 household sanitary toilets were installed; 150 new coconut trees, 400 betel nut trees, and over 3,000 ornamental plants were planted, with over 8,500 square meters of sod laid. Fruit trees were planted in front of and behind every household, achieving the goals of hardened, greened, and beautified village spaces. The agricultural production structure was actively adjusted to develop ecological economy: 1,667 mu of rubber, 600 mu of bananas (including intercropping), 145 mu of yulan bamboo shoots, 60 mu of betel nuts, 90 mu of lychee and longan, 23 mu of pepper, 50 mu of rice, and 110 mu of other cash crops were planted. The per capita net income in 2005 exceeded 4,300 yuan. The former site of the Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative of Qiongshan County’s First District was renovated and turned into a revolutionary tradition education base. A new cultural center, lighted basketball and volleyball courts, a stage, and cable TV were installed. Cultural and sports associations were established, organizing art troupes and traditional music bands, hosting events such as farmer calligraphy competitions and volleyball tournaments. Extensive education campaigns on civic morality, law, and science were carried out, along with initiatives like “Farewell to Bad Habits, Cherish Health, Protect Our Home” and “New Trends in Marriage and Childbirth Enter the Family.” Villagers were organized to study theory, culture, and technology, greatly improving their ideological, moral, and scientific literacy. Today, Benli Village has a completely renewed look, with significantly improved living conditions, markedly higher living standards, and greatly enhanced civility among its residents. Following the Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, the confidence of Benli’s cadres and villagers in building a civilized and ecological village has grown even stronger. In line with the goals of “developed production, affluent life, civilized rural culture, tidy village appearance, and democratic management,” they are steadily advancing the construction of a new countryside.

Contact: Mr. Wang 13876032833, Zeng Guangjun 13016291290