Carrying Forward the Red Gene: A Visit to the Yang Shanzhou Spirit Education Base by the Six Ministries Party Branch

On June 19th, Saturday, the car departed from Dali's Xiaguan, heading west towards Yunnan Province. The scenery along the way was picturesque, with lush mountains and valleys. Despite being midsummer, the weather was pleasantly cool, a perfect combination of favorable timing, location, and people. After a four-hour journey, filled with joyful atmosphere and lively singing, a group of over 20 people from the Liugongbu Party branch arrived at the Yang Shanzhou Spirit Education Base in Dupo Village, Yaoguan Town, Shidian County, Baoshan City. They came to pay respects and learn about the touching story of Mr. Yang Shanzhou, and to experience firsthand the noble sentiments of a Communist Party member who wholeheartedly serves the people.

Yaoguan is Mr. Yang Shanzhou's hometown. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it was inhabited by the Baiyue people and was known as Menglong, meaning "forest place" in the Dai language. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Lao Yao, named after the Lao Yao Mountain where pottery was fired. During the Ming Dynasty, the name changed to Yaoguan after the court suppressed a rebellion there and built a pass to defend against enemies, changing "Yao" from "kiln" to "Yao." Yao means beautiful, and Guan means as strong as a fortress. The name Yaoguan has been used since the Ming Dynasty, over 400 years, without ever changing. Daliang Mountain, under the jurisdiction of Yaoguan Town, was stripped bare during the period of mass steel production. Mr. Yang Shanzhou, using 22 years of his retirement, planted trees and created forests covering 56,000 mu, restoring the vitality of Daliang Mountain.

Daliang Mountain Scenery

The winding mountain road of Daliang Mountain is a typical example of Yunnan's mountain roads. This 14-kilometer forest road was surveyed and built by Secretary Yang Shanzhou and the forestry workers. They later mobilized the masses to contribute labor and extend the forest road to surrounding villages, reaching a total length of over 70 kilometers. This greatly facilitated the travel and daily life of the villagers around Daliang Mountain. In a video of an interview with the late Secretary, he expressed sincere pride in the convenience the road brought to the villagers. At that moment, I felt his purity and integrity, and the deep care for the people in his simple words. This sentiment is the original aspiration of a Communist Party member. This aspiration was constantly filled and touched upon throughout the visit. Everyone wants to achieve great things, to influence the world, but often overlooks the fact that persistent efforts in ordinary things can still make the country prosperous and the people happy.

The car slowly moved along the dark and damp road, winding its way. Tall trees with lush branches lined both sides of the road, showing no sign of the past desolation. Daliang Mountain has an altitude of over 2600 meters. A folk song describes it as: "Oh, Daliang Mountain, half a year of rain, half a year of frost; roasting chestnuts in front, and frost like horse teeth behind." In such a harsh environment, Yang Shanzhou led the workers in planting trees and becoming self-sufficient. In 22 years, over 8000 days and nights, 56,000 mu of barren hills, 80 large mountain peaks, and over 180 small mountain peaks were transformed. The forest coverage rate increased from 17% to 97%. Behind these numbers lies perseverance and belief. When the mountains of Daliang Mountain are once again lush and green, and the mountains and rivers regain their former beauty and tranquility, how can one not feel the lifelong toil and achievements of this old man who rests here? He used his life and actions to interpret his love for his hometown and the Party's commitment to wholeheartedly serving the people. The pine trees on the mountain stand tall and straight, full of vigor, just like China today, confident, strong, and radiant.

The car stopped. Stepping out, the mountain breeze blew, fresh and moist, bringing back a familiar feeling, the scent of home. Distant mountain peaks were shrouded in white mist, hazy and ethereal, like a fairyland. Following the plan, we had a quick buffet lunch at the restaurant. Then, led by the tour guide, we went to visit the place where Mr. Yang Shanzhou lived and worked.

The simple oil felt house, the rudimentary office supplies and tools, and the simple farming implements all showed the owner's former poverty. Such extremely simple living conditions are unimaginable for children growing up in cities today. Yet, an old man who had served as a prefectural committee secretary was willing to live in poverty in this little-known place for 22 years, his entire life, until his death. I feel that the old man has not left; he has become the pine trees, the mountain wind, the mountain springs, and every plant and tree in the mountains, always watching over the villagers of the more than 200 villages around Daliang Mountain. The branch presented flower baskets and couplets at the old man's tomb, and everyone renewed their Party membership oath at his tomb: "I volunteer to join the Communist Party of China, uphold the Party's program, abide by the Party's constitution, fulfill the obligations of a Party member, execute the Party's decisions, strictly observe the Party's discipline, keep the Party's secrets, work actively, strive for communism throughout my life, be ready at any time to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people, and never betray the Party." At that moment, I felt everyone was so sacred and solemn, and the Party emblem shone brightly on every Party member's chest. At the Story Forest, we listened to the tour guide explain 22 short stories about Mr. Yang Shanzhou's life, deeply moved. The four hours passed quickly, everyone either stopping to watch, listening attentively, or taking notes, gaining a lot.

After dinner, it was late, but everyone's enthusiasm remained high as we walked towards the observation tower. The observation tower is 4 kilometers one way and 8 kilometers round trip from the base. The road appears to have been paved with stones in recent years, making it difficult for vehicles but wide and flat for pedestrians. Everyone chatted and laughed along the way. Some young people familiar with rural life in Yunnan even foraged for wild mushrooms in the woods, harvesting little but enjoying the novelty. Tall, straight pine trees lined both sides of the road, dense and winding, making it impossible to see the end from one side or the other. Surrounded by the forest, we could only see the faintly lit stone path guiding us forward. I don't remember how many turns we took, but the sky was much darker than when we arrived, and a white mist began to fill the woods. Finally, we reached the observation tower. The observation tower isn't actually a tower; it's a square reinforced concrete building on a mountaintop with a four-tiered platform. The view is expansive; from the top, you can overlook countless mountains of various sizes. This is the true purpose of the observation tower. Two staff members greeted us warmly and invited us to have tea and water in the first-floor room. We declined their kindness and went to the top of the tower to better appreciate the precious legacy Yang Shanzhou left to Daliang Mountain. However, the white mist had become even denser and thicker, limiting our visibility to just one meter. Looking up from below, we felt like we were floating among the clouds. By the time we returned, it was completely dark, and we had to use lights to navigate. But the darkness couldn't hide the lively chatter; laughter echoed through the woods. Along the way, fireflies seemed to be inspired by the laughter, quietly resting on the branches and grass along the road, their faint glow like a farewell to the distant visitors. An 8-kilometer walk would feel long in daily life, but on this beautiful night, it felt quite memorable.

The Scenery by the Observation Tower

Daliang Mountain in the Morning

At night, lying in bed, the sound of the pines outside my window was constant, everything peaceful and tranquil. Away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, this was a great enjoyment. Looking at the clean and tidy room, recalling the former residence of Mr. Yang Shanzhou, how could we not work hard and shoulder the responsibilities of a Party member? I fell into a deep sleep amidst aimless thoughts. This sleep felt like 100 years; I don't remember how long it's been since I slept so soundly. I woke naturally to the beautiful songs of birds in the forest. Opening the curtains, a thick fog stretched into the distance, mountains looming faintly in the mist. After last night's rain, the pine branches were even greener, the whole world seemed instantly clear and pure, making me feel incredibly refreshed and happy. In two hours, we will say goodbye to Daliang Mountain. We will remember its beautiful environment, and more importantly, we will forever engrave the spirit of Mr. Yang Shanzhou in our hearts—the original aspiration and mission of a Communist Party member! Only in this way will our trip not have been in vain.

[Liugongbu/Chu Wenlin Editor/Hu Hengjin]