Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Wendeng Station. [Photo by Zhao Ruixue/China Daily]

Tsinghua University, in conjunction with local governments, is setting up bases in rural areas to explore long-term revitalization projects, Zhao Ruixue reports in Weihai, Shandong province.

In late November, it might have been cold outside the Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Wendeng Station in Weihai, Shandong province, but inside, a lively discussion about how to develop the town by integrating the institution's resources with those of the local, rural area was heating up.

The facility, jointly built by the university and the town government of Dashuipo, is located in Wendeng district of the coastal city.

"We can coordinate resources of our university to provide targeted assistance, but we need to know what the town needs by doing research in the town," Zhang Shuming, representing Tsinghua at the discussion, explained to the room.

The 23-year-old, who is pursuing a doctoral degree at the School of Architecture of Tsinghua University, immediately began fielding questions and responses from village and town officials.

The Design Valley conceived by Li Jiutai, who represents the local side in the working scheme of Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Wendeng Station in Weihai, Shandong province. The station is located in Chujia village of Dashuipo town in the city of Weihai. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"It will be great if Go players at Tsinghua can join us in the competition which will be held in our village next month," says Li Lin, an adviser in the town who has lived in Dashuipo for years since moving from a big city. He was then followed by Liu Wenguang, an official of Dashuipo.

"To expand markets, attractive logos for our agricultural products are needed," he explains.

A wide range of topics including how to brighten the villages' environment and improve infrastructure were also discussed.

"The discussions are helpful. They help us get to know locals' needs and hear their requests when developing their villages," says Zhang, adding that such discussions will be held regularly as part of the station's work.

Dashuipo, a town made up of 89 villages with a total population of 40,000 people, is the largest town in Wendeng. It is the fourth base put into service by Tsinghua since 2017, when the university launched a campaign to promote rural revitalization around the country. The university plans to build a total of 19 rural revitalization stations in 14 provinces.

The reason to build the stations is to help promote the endogenous power of rural development.

"The stations provide a base for students staying in villages to carry out field research and other related activities. They get to know the village, then they know how to develop it," says Han Haoqing, secretary of the Communist Youth League of China at the School of Architecture at Tsinghua.