Kinghelm’s Chen Suwei Returns Home for the Year of the Horse — Discovering a New Shicheng
Author Profile:
Name: Chen Suwei
Position: Sales Director, Kinghelm Electronics
Hometown: Ganzhou, Jiangxi
Aspiration: Perseverance is a key element of success. If you knock on the door long enough and loud enough, you will eventually wake the person inside.
Kinghelm Electronics Sales Director Chen Suwei
As the Xingquan Railway train slowly rolled into Shicheng County Station, the view outside the window gradually shifted—from the dense skylines of bustling cities to the lush green mountains at the source of the Gan River. As someone born in Shicheng who has spent many years living away from home, I finally began my journey back for the 2026 Spring Festival in the Year of the Horse.
In just one year, the transformation of my hometown has gone far beyond “a few new buildings” or “some repaired roads.” From transportation infrastructure to the cityscape, from the vibrant festive atmosphere to the rhythm of everyday life, Shicheng has undergone a remarkable and comprehensive renewal. This return home brought more than the warmth of reunion after time away—it also revealed a hometown that feels both familiar and wonderfully new, offering a fresh perspective on a place I thought I already knew so well.
After putting down my luggage, I couldn’t wait to head toward the center of Shicheng County. The most striking transformation over the past year is undoubtedly the Minyue Tongqu Cultural District, a landmark project with a total investment of 1.2 billion RMB. Streets that once felt slightly worn have now been reborn as the most vibrant cultural destination in Shicheng, blending heritage with modern urban design.
As night falls, Xuhua Gate, the ancient opera stage, and the riverside promenade illuminate together, creating a breathtaking scene. Under the flowing lights, the timeless charm of Hakka culture merges beautifully with contemporary lighting design. Throughout the district, 100 neatly arranged temporary market stalls line the streets, forming a lively cultural market. From February 6 to March 7, the market stays open throughout the entire first lunar month, filling the area with festive energy and celebration.
Here, I once again encountered the familiar traditions of Hakka lantern performances. Tea-basket lantern dancers moved gracefully through the ancient streets, while in front of the historic opera stage, the melodious rhythms of tea-picking opera captivated elderly spectators. Above the city gate, a lively reenactment of the traditional “throwing the embroidered ball to welcome a bride” ceremony sparked excitement among the crowd, drawing cheers and smiles from visitors and locals alike.
Hakka Heritage Blends Perfectly with Modern Light and Shadow
What surprised me most was the traditional papermaking workshop set up inside the district. Skilled craftsmen demonstrated the centuries-old process—from scooping pulp to drying freshly formed sheets—right before visitors’ eyes. Children gathered around with excitement, trying the process themselves and discovering the fascinating charm of intangible cultural heritage through hands-on experience.
This year’s market also feels very different from the past. Instead of loosely arranged street stalls, the entire marketplace is carefully standardized and thoughtfully designed. Wooden lattice structures, elegant tiled eaves, clearly marked signage, and transparent price tags create a well-organized and welcoming atmosphere. Walking through the market now feels less like browsing random stalls and more like exploring a curated cultural festival.
This kind of standardized management not only elevates the visitor experience but also reflects a deeper transformation in how the festival economy operates—shifting from short-term holiday crowds to a more sustainable, long-term cultural tourism model.
A New Style of Festive Atmosphere: Tradition Meets Trend
The 2026 Spring Festival in Shicheng County carried an even stronger festive spirit and offered more diverse ways to celebrate. Traditional Hakka customs remain beautifully preserved in their authentic form, while a variety of modern and trendy elements have been added—allowing people of all ages to discover their own moments of joy during the holiday.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, my family and I visited the breathtaking Tongtianzhai Scenic Area. Today, it is far more than just a sightseeing destination—it has transformed into a lively “trendy cultural playground.” In front of Nanlu House, a calligraphy master wrote the Chinese character “Fu” and traditional Spring Festival couplets on the spot, gifting them to visitors as blessings for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead. The scent of fresh ink filled the air, adding a timeless touch to the celebration.
Throughout the scenic area, a specially designed cultural creative stamp booklet became one of the most popular attractions. Visitors carried their booklets while exploring the park, searching for eight horse-themed stamps to complete their personalized Year of the Horse souvenir collection. At the playful “Pat the Horse” photo checkpoint, young people lined up to take creative photos, hoping to capture the cheerful symbolism behind the phrase “good luck arrives immediately.”
Great Fortune and Prosperity — I’m Waiting for You in Shicheng
This year, even our reunion dinner in Shicheng County felt refreshingly different. In the past, my mother would spend the entire day in the kitchen preparing every dish from scratch. Now, a creative blend of Hakka pre-prepared dishes and traditional home-style cooking has become increasingly popular, making the celebration both easier and just as meaningful.
Classic Hakka favorites—like lotus-seed pork rib soup and stir-fried wild scallions with cured pork—were served alongside convenient prepared dishes such as braised pork and fish balls. This combination not only saves valuable time in the kitchen but also preserves the comforting, familiar flavors that define a true home-style New Year feast.
After dinner, our family’s traditions have also evolved. Instead of simply gathering around the television, we now spend the evening taking group photos, visiting scenic spots, or enjoying traditional Hakka round-table banquets at local guesthouses. Reunion celebrations have become more flexible, lively, and experiential, turning the holiday into a richer and more memorable family experience.
Spring Is Full of Promise — It’s the Time to Strive!
During the Spring Festival, I also returned to my old village in Shicheng County. In recent years, the county has been actively promoting the development of beautiful countryside communities, and the transformation is remarkable. Today’s villages are no longer associated with “dirty and messy” conditions—instead, they have become vibrant, clean, and welcoming places to live and thrive.
The roads leading into the villages have been upgraded from simple cement to smooth asphalt highways. Public security infrastructure has been strengthened, and both bus routes and ride-hailing services now reach nearly every village, making visits to relatives far more convenient than before.
The village environment has also undergone a complete renewal. Waste sorting stations are widely installed, treated wastewater flows clear again, and many previously unused rural houses have been transformed into distinctive Hakka-style guesthouses. Around popular destinations like Bagua Nao and Tongtianzhai Scenic Area, accommodations are often fully booked during the Spring Festival. Many returning residents even choose to stay in these guesthouses with their families, enjoying a unique reunion surrounded by green mountains and clear waters.
By the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the holiday was drawing to a close, and it was time for me to return to Shenzhen. Standing on the platform of Shicheng Station and looking back at this rapidly developing town, I felt both reluctant to leave and deeply proud.
In 2026, the Xingquan Railway has connected Shicheng more closely with the outside world. At the same time, the general aviation airport project is accelerating, gradually forming an integrated transportation network of rail, road, and air. The Minyue Tongqu Cultural District has become a new benchmark for cultural tourism integration, while the vitality of all-region tourism continues to grow. Meanwhile, the vision of rural revitalization is steadily unfolding, bringing increasingly prosperous and fulfilling lives to the people who call this place home.
A New Shicheng — My Hometown
The transformation of my hometown in Shicheng County is not only visible—it is something you can truly feel. From infrastructure to daily life, the changes are real, tangible, and deeply moving. Shicheng is no longer the quiet, underdeveloped county town people once imagined; it has grown into a vibrant, dynamic, and highly livable place filled with new opportunities.
No matter how far life may take me, Shicheng County will always remain the warmest place in my heart. I truly believe that in the near future, this peaceful Hakka town at the source of the Gan River will shine even brighter—revealing its unique charm to more people and writing an even more inspiring chapter of growth and renewal.
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