Benli Village

　　Benli Village: A Place That Evokes Memories. The Hongqi Agricultural Cooperative, the earliest and largest advanced agricultural cooperative in Hainan after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, was located here. A stone slab engraved with Chairman Mao’s instructions can be seen in a prominent spot in the village, which is sure to bring back many memories of that era. At the same time, the village’s beautiful environment and clean roads make it feel like stepping into a rural park, refreshing the mind and soul, and leaving visitors reluctant to leave. Want to experience it? Starting from Haikou, take the Donghai-Yudong Highway and you’ll arrive at the 31-kilometer mark.

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

　　　　Benli Village is a veteran revolutionary base area with a glorious revolutionary tradition. During the revolutionary war years, the villagers of Benli actively participated in the revolutionary struggle and made significant contributions to the victory of the revolutionary cause. 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 Village, 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 agricultural cooperatives in Benli Village, Benlihu Village, and Dawan Village. 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 promoting rural construction, creating a significant impact and becoming a flagship for agricultural development in Hainan. On October 10, 1955, Chairman Mao Zedong gave an instruction regarding the Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative: “The fact that it is most advantageous to establish large and advanced cooperatives is also proven by the experience of the Hongqi Cooperative on Hainan Island. This large cooperative, which has only been in existence for a year, is already preparing to upgrade to an advanced cooperative. 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 for them to merge and upgrade. However, generally speaking, about three years is usually sufficient. What is important is to set an example for the farmers. When farmers see that large and advanced cooperatives are more beneficial than small and low-level ones, they will demand mergers and upgrades” (excerpted from the preface written by Chairman Mao Zedong for the article “The Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative of the First District of Qiongshan County Has Consolidated Itself in the Struggle Against Natural Disasters and Capitalist Ideology,” included in Mao Zedong’s edited work “The Socialist Upsurge in China’s Countryside”). During the establishment of the Hongqi Cooperative, central leaders such as Li Lisan, as well as Tao Zhu, Secretary of the South China Bureau, and leaders from the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Provincial Government, Hainan Regional Party Committee, visited the Hongqi 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 Village have continued to uphold their glorious traditions, keeping pace with the times and pioneering innovation. Using the creation of a civilized and ecological village as an important vehicle, they have strived to build a new socialist countryside. In 2005, a plan for creating a civilized and ecological village was formulated, with 710,000 yuan invested in the project. Villagers contributed 8,600 workdays, 26 old houses were demolished, 32 cattle sheds and pigsties were relocated, and over 300 truckloads of garbage and rubble were cleared. Three 700-meter-long village loop roads, 400 meters of retaining walls, 14 drainage ditches totaling 2,800 meters, and 18 village lanes totaling over 3,600 meters were paved. A lotus pond, a coconut grove, and 14 leisure spots were constructed. Twenty-four biogas pits and 42 household sanitary toilets were built. One hundred and fifty coconut trees, 400 betel nut trees, and over 3,000 flowering plants were newly planted, along with over 8,500 square meters of sod. Fruit trees were planted in front of and behind every household, achieving the goals of hardening, greening, and beautifying the village. The village also actively adjusted its agricultural production structure, vigorously developing an eco-friendly economy. It planted 1,667 mu of rubber, 600 mu of bananas (including intercropping), 145 mu of magnolia shoots, 60 mu of betel nuts, 90 mu of lychees and longans, 23 mu of pepper, 50 mu of rice, and 110 mu of other cash crops. In 2005, the per capita net income exceeded 4,300 yuan. The former site of the Hongqi Agricultural Production Cooperative of the First District of Qiongshan County 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. A cultural and sports association was established, organizing performance troupes and traditional music bands, as well as events such as farmer calligraphy competitions and volleyball matches. Extensive education campaigns on civic morality, law, and science were carried out, along with initiatives like “Say Goodbye to Bad Habits, Cherish Health, Protect Our Home” and “New Trends in Marriage and Childbirth Enter Families.” Villagers were organized to study theory, culture, and technology, greatly improving their ideological, moral, and scientific literacy. Today, Benli Village has a completely renewed appearance, significantly improved living conditions, markedly higher living standards, and a greatly enhanced level of civility among its residents. Following the Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, the cadres and villagers of Benli Village have even greater confidence in building a civilized and ecological village. They are steadily advancing the construction of a new countryside in accordance with the goals of “developing production, ensuring prosperous living, fostering civilized rural customs, maintaining a tidy village appearance, and promoting democratic management.”

　　　　Contact: Mr. Wang 13876032833, Zeng Guangjun 13016291290