In 1984, Wang Shaoju, a public relations expert, wrote to Chinese newspapers explaining the dire situation in Chixi. At that time, some families were so poor that they only had one pair of pants between them, which they had to take turns wearing if they wanted to go outside. The village's poverty soon drew nationwide attention. Three months later, the central government announced the launch of a nationwide poverty alleviation campaign. Chixi was one of the first villages to join the campaign.

A stone carved "Chixi, China's First Poverty Alleviation Village" stands in the courtyard of Du's Residence, Chixi village, Fujian province, Dec. 19, 2024. [Photo by Huang Shan/China.org.cn]