Using their footsteps to paint youth and spread new agricultural knowledge
Planning began in May, with the route designed and teammates recruited. On July 11, they departed from Jinzhong City in our province, traveling across Shanxi and Hebei provinces, and arrived at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on the afternoon of July 30. It is reported that 10 university students from four schools, including Shanxi Agricultural University and Yan’an University, spontaneously formed a team. Six of them were from Shanxi Agricultural University. Each person carried only 300 yuan for the entire journey, traveling from Jinzhong to Yangquan, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and finally reaching Beijing.
“I really envy the study tour experiences of Mao Zedong and his classmates in the TV series ‘Just Like When We Were Young,’ which inspired me to embark on my own educational journey,” said Liu Kun, the team leader of this activity. A senior majoring in Rural Regional Development at Shanxi Agricultural University, he hopes to do something meaningful. He explained that this activity was spontaneously organized by 10 university students from four schools, including Shanxi Agricultural University and Yan’an University. Six of the participants were from Shanxi Agricultural University. Throughout the journey, each person only brought 300 yuan. They traveled from Jinzhong to Yangquan, Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and finally arrived in Beijing.
On July 11, just as they set off, they encountered heavy rain and were forced to stay in Guojia Bu Township, Jinzhong City. When they tried to find lodging, they were mistaken for a pyramid scheme group. After some negotiation, the village committee director finally agreed to let them stay overnight.
Team member Li Bing wrote in his journal: “On July 21, we officially left Shijiazhuang City in Hebei Province and entered Baoding City—we’re one step closer to Beijing ! We set off in the morning from Anchang Village and stayed at the restaurant where we had lunch in the late afternoon. The reason was that everyone was exhausted in the morning. We set off after six o’clock, and couldn’t find a restaurant at noon, walking nearly 60 li... A lady from a nearby convenience store, upon learning about our activity, brought us tomatoes and half a watermelon. We were deeply moved...”
“We can’t just walk.” Liu Kun and his teammates discussed: as university students majoring in agriculture, they hoped to truly live up to the meaning of going to the countryside through this opportunity. The teammates brought projectors, computers, and other equipment, and along the way, used video screenings and verbal explanations to teach farmers some basic agricultural knowledge. For example, in a village in Yangquan, they introduced new knowledge about growing tomatoes and cucumbers to a farmer who runs a greenhouse. “The villagers thanked us, welcomed us, and affirmed the significance of our activity,” said Liu Kun.
Liu Kun has already begun his next phase of practical life. He admitted: “During the 20-day activity, there were adjustments among teammates and obstacles along the way, but in the end, it was all growth.”