Xinzhuang Village is located in the eastern part of Xingshou Town, 2 kilometers from the town center and 22 kilometers from Changping District’s urban area, adjacent to the Jingmi Diversion Canal to the north. The village covers an area of 1.74 square kilometers (2,617 mu), with the settlement area occupying 0.23 square kilometers in an east-west rectangular layout. The current permanent population is 1,883 people.
Following the 20-character policy for rural revitalization, Xinzhuang Village has vigorously developed leisure-oriented eco-agricultural tourism. Through comprehensive planning, it has created an integrated rural industrial complex combining tourism, catering, homestays, and fruit picking, realizing its beautiful vision of becoming a “Nature Classroom, Wonderful Strawberry Xinzhuang – where the future of rural life can be seen.
Village characteristics
“Education for Village Revitalization” and “Eco-Friendly Village Revitalization” are the two defining features of Xinzhuang Village.
In terms of education-driven revitalization, in July 2012, the private educational institution Xiangshang School, guided by the philosophy of nature-based education, took root in Xinzhuang Village. Parents of the students gradually moved from the city to Xinzhuang Village and surrounding areas to accompany their children, becoming new villagers and innovators. Over time, this has fostered a strong momentum for cultural and educational revitalization in the village.
Regarding eco-friendly revitalization, Xinzhuang Village is a pioneer in waste classification in Beijing. In March 2016, seven individuals, including Tang Yingying, a parent from Xiangshang School, formed an environmental protection group in the village. Together with the village committee, they led both long-time and new residents in initiatives such as “Clean Village” and “Plastic-Free Campaign,” promoting the rural waste-sorting model of “two bins and two boxes.”
Over the past eight years of implementing waste classification, the village has refined practical, operable, and scalable measures like “no littering on the ground” and the “two bins and two boxes sorting method” into the “Xinzhuang Model” for rural waste management. This approach has turned waste into a “golden key” for reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Commercial space and activity operations
The village currently has 103 commercial establishments (including 94 innovative startups), comprising 24 restaurants, 8 homestays, 14 education and training institutions, 1 outdoor sports facility, 7 supermarkets, 5 cafes, 7 pastry and tea art shops, 8 healthcare businesses, 14 intangible cultural heritage handicraft workshops, and 9 agricultural enterprises, among others.
Xinzhuang Village has effectively leveraged the key strategy of urban-rural integration by hosting distinctive events such as the opening ceremony of the Eco-Friendly Market, the 10th Beijing “Strawberry Star” Awards, and village galas rich in Beijing-style culture. Utilizing 400 square meters of idle construction land, the village has established a Village History Museum and an Innovation Center, guiding the formation of the Xinzhuang Innovators Alliance to create a physical platform for collaboration.
Initiatives such as “Party members showcasing commitments, businesses demonstrating integrity, villagers highlighting family values, and new residents displaying contributions” have been implemented to foster a positive atmosphere of Party-building leadership, ethical operations, and civilized development. The village has also promoted the “Three Responsibilities at the Doorstep” program, encouraging both long-time and new residents to take ownership of environmental hygiene, green space management, and neighborhood order, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility and participation in rural revitalization.
By uniting forces through shared ideals, inspiring emotional resonance through cultural identity, and creating an integrated village through collective vision, Xinzhuang Village has developed a “Co-Creation Ideal Village” model. This model facilitates interaction and integration between old and new residents, joint creation and sharing, complementary advantages between urban and rural elements, and harmonious coexistence of agricultural and urban civilizations.
Overview of the Maker Street
Maker Street is located in the central part of Xinzhuang Village, serving as the main east-west thoroughfare with a total length of 490 meters. It is lined with 34 residential homestead plots on both sides. New villagers and makers have spontaneously gathered along Maker Street and the surrounding alleys, where uniquely styled storefronts have gradually transformed the area into a “trendy hotspot,” attracting numerous visitors.
In April 2024, the renovation project for Xinzhuang Maker Street was launched. The district’s “Hundreds and Thousands Project” task force, in collaboration with the Maker Party Branch of Xinzhuang Village, engaged with local makers to discuss storefront facade upgrades, collecting 18 hand-drafted renovation proposals. Designers from the expert team enhanced the aesthetic appeal while preserving the original character, turning the sketches into construction blueprints for a comprehensive makeover of Maker Street.
After over four months of construction, the renovation was fully completed. A total of 21 storefronts were upgraded, 1,100 square meters of road were paved with stone, and 23 manhole covers were replaced. Along the main street, flower beds were built, green spaces were landscaped, and 1,764 ornamental plants were added. Additionally, 17 utility poles were removed, 288 overhead wires were cleared, and public restrooms underwent interior renovations, including wall insulation and repainting.
On weekends and holidays, Xinzhuang Village continues to host themed markets on Maker Street, attracting an average of over 5,000 visitors daily. This initiative has significantly boosted villagers’ incomes, driving collective prosperity.
Rainbow Angel Café
Established in 2017, the Rainbow Angel Café settled in Xinzhuang Village in March 2023. The café specializes in coffee and Taiwanese-style pastries. The owner is Ms. Li Shaohua from Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Since its founding, the café has been dedicated to providing free likely “baking and coffee-making skills training” and employment opportunities for hearing-impaired and deaf youth aged 18 and above from across mainland China. Currently, the café employs 7 hearing-impaired staff members from Heilongjiang, Shandong, Hebei, Yunnan, and other regions.
Xinzhuang Guest House
To strengthen the public service system of Xinzhuang Village and promote village education, Xinzhuang Village established the “Xinzhuang Guest House” in October 2024, taking advantage of the opportunity to create a demonstration village for rural revitalization under the “Hundreds and Thousands Project.” The Guest House, with a total construction area of 640 square meters, serves as a comprehensive platform to showcase the village’s history, culture, industries, and folk traditions, allowing more people to learn about the village’s heritage and customs while fostering a sense of belonging and identity among residents.
The Guest House is divided into four sections:
First Floor: Party-Mass Service Center: Provides community services and support. Village Exhibition Center: Displays the village’s culture, landscape, and development. Maker Alliance Space: Features exhibits on maker culture and artistic creations.
Second Floor: Village History Museum: Preserves and extends the village’s historical legacy while deeply exploring Xinzhuang’s tourism resources. This section plays an active role in advancing the village’s rural revitalization efforts.
The Xinzhuang Guest House not only enhances cultural and historical awareness but also serves as a dynamic hub for community engagement and sustainable development.
Gift Handicraft Workshop
Gift Handicraft Workshop was established in 2022, offering training courses in woodworking, traditional Chinese painting, clay sculpture, lacquer art, and indigo dyeing. In addition to teaching, the workshop also engages in personal art creation, art sales, various cultural activities, and the development of art-inspired environments.
Rooted in the traditional Chinese cultural value of “dedication to learning”, the workshop embodies a spirit of craftsmanship. It was co-founded and is jointly operated by three like-minded professionals in art and education: Guo Chunxing from Inner Mongolia, Xia Yishi from Guangdong, and Li Saipeng from Shandong.
The studio spans two floors with a total area of 600 square meters, including a 300-square-meter lifestyle art space and a 150-square-meter woodworking room. During market events, the workshop attracts hundreds of visitors and has established strong collaborative relationships with local villagers. Working hand in hand with the community, the Gift Handicraft Workshop shares resources and customer traffic, fostering mutual prosperity and forming a dynamic, positive cycle of growth.
Xinzhang School
Founded by the renowned ink painting master Mr. Feng Zhongyun in 2010, the current owner, Liu Wenyu, is both a student of Mr. Feng and a parent at the Xiangshang School in Xinzhang Village. Upholding the philosophy of “Education for Village Prosperity,” the school offers training in traditional art forms such as freehand brushwork, meticulous painting, landscape painting, calligraphy, gongbi (detailed brushwork), and seal carving.
Fusan Café
Founded in 2017 as a commercial chain brand in Beijing’s Qianmen area, the Xinzhang store was established in August 2024 by Wu Junlong in Xinzhang Village. The owner is a parent of a student at Xiangshang School. The name “Fusan” is derived from a seven-character regulated verse by the Ming Dynasty poet Tang Yin: “Three cups at a rustic shop, stone-chilled spring, such blessings never end.” Fusan Café blends the coffee space, an old house, and a small courtyard, showcasing its unique Chinese literary and artistic style.
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025
