Laowan, or old bay, was once known as “a land of rice and fish” with lush mountains and lucid waters. However, the rapid industrial development was gained at the cost of the ecological environment. 

 

 

 

The local Party and government leaders issued “three clean-ups and six treatments”, and Ma Hongbiao, a deputy to the NPC at the county level and an economic able person, took the lead in cleaning up the mess, donating funds, demolishing the dangerous and old buildings and constructing a cultural center. He set up a model of “able townsmen return to rebuild their hometown”.

 

Now, Laowan has become clean and tidy with lucid water and beautiful landscape. Ma Hongbin, an old village official, said that there were illegal shanties which have seriously affected the environment and has become, which was partly the source of dirt and chaos.

 

In recent years, a total investment of over 5 million yuan has been spent on the village improvement, making the once deserted shanty area come to life.  

 

 

The original ranch houses are replaced by buildings with various characteristics. There are camphor trees and osmanthus trees on both sides of the road to the village.

 

Ma Youxin, a sanitation worker, said, “thanks to the better environment and villagers’ better sanitary habits, my cleaning work becomes easier.”

 

 

 

At the Laowan Cultural Center, the elder villagers sitting in front of the TV look happy and relaxed. In the evening, in the small square of Laowan, a hundred or so light-footed women were dancing with the music. In the distance, a group of students were walking and laughing under the lights.

 

Since March of this year, the beautiful Laowan construction and renovation work has been carried out, the air pollution has been brought under prevention and control, and progress has been made in harmless treatment of sewage.

 

Besides, education, medical care, pension, housing and other social security and basic public services have been further improved. Now, a beautiful, prosperous, livable and dynamic Laowan is taking shape.

 

 

Whenever Laowan is mentioned, some people always think of the Huangluoxian Temple. Now, the newly renovated Huangluoxian Temple has become a local landmark.

 

 

 

The Huangluoxian Temple was built in the late Ming Dynasty, and has been renewed many times. Since March this year, Ma Hongbiao has raised funds of more than two million yuan to rebuild the Huangluoxian Temple.

 

Today, it has gathered more than 60 volunteers and received donations of more than 5 million yuan, becoming a symbol of Laowan people’s kindness.