On August 24, after review by experts from the International SUC Institute, Hejiachong Village in Luoshan County, Xinyang was officially included in the "Pilot Project of the SUC UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities" and was presented with a pilot certificate by the International SUC Institute. This is also the first village in the Central Plains region to apply for the UN SUC Guidelines for Sustainable Communities to develop pilot building after multiple urban and rural community projects in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province took the lead in the inclusion in the "Pilot Project of the SUC UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities" (International Future Community Pilots).
Hejiachong Village of Luoshan County is located in Xinyang City, Henan Province. It is a red sacred place with important commemorative significance in China. It is also one of the 100 classic red tourism scenic spots in China and a core component of the Chinese Long March Red Memory Tourism Belt. According to the research and demonstration of the Luoshan County Party Committee and County Government for more than half a year since the end of 2021 and the multiple work arrangements from May to June 2022, Hejiachong has decided to formally apply for the "SUC UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities Pilot", and strive to use more than two years to comprehensively build a modern, international, and sustainable rural future community model with the concept of "global vision, international standards, red genes, and Central Plains characteristics".
In late August 2022, Hejiachong officially finalized the Chinese and English application materials for the Pilots in accordance with the UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities and pilot application requirements, followed by SUC Programme China Office submitting the materials to the SUC Institute for review. Hejiachong's application materials closely follow the seven major areas of the UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities, comprehensively elaborate its past innovative practices, current achievements, and future pilot mechanisms and related plans, and highlight the clear intention, pilot goals and project representativeness to implement the pilot project. It has been highly recognized by the SUC Institute and Ex-chief of the United Nations Environment Programme and Chairman of the Management Committee of the SUC Institute officially issued a pilot certificate.
In the field of sustainable buildings, Hejiachong Village has vigorously developed southern Henan residential buildings with local characteristics and diversified clean energy, implemented pipe network pooling and classification & recycling of domestic waste, as well as sponge village construction. In the future, it will promote the use of local building materials with greater efforts;
In terms of community facilities and services, centering on building a national 4A-level tourist attraction, the Village has improved the facility and basic services of tourist service center, parking lots, square, homestays, clinics, etc., has initially built a 15-minute happy life circle, and is vigorously improving the smart rural tourism and cultural service functions;
With regard to community landscapes, the original spatial structure and rural texture are preserved, and the protective use of existing historical sites and ancient dwellings is promoted. Rural wetlands, earthscape paddy field and public open spaces are being planned and built;
As for developing economic productivity, the Village implements the integrated development of agriculture, culture and tourism, develops rural smart logistics, agricultural science & technology innovation and smart agriculture, and makes every effort to build the Hejiachong cultural and creative brand;
Regarding safety and resilience, Hejiachong, by building a comprehensive natural disaster monitoring & early warning system and a food safety ensuring system, formulating and implementing emergency ensuring mechanisms, and developing emergency shelters and smart rural governance, creates a safe village;
About building a proud and well-educated community, the Hejiachong Academy has been built. In the future, the pride and sense of belonging of residents will be enhanced by vigorously inheriting the spirit of the Long March, implementing cultural IP creation, constructing a cultural classroom integrating farm library and cultural & creative center, building an age-friendly community, and holding rich cultural activities;
As to community management, the Village plans to start developing an indicator and management systems, by establishing a rural digital life service platform, constructing a democratic discussion hall, implementing a contribution points mechanism and the "Internet + grid" governance model, formulating a villagers' convention, developing community self-governance organizations, etc., to create a modern and international rural future community.
It is reported that this April, Xinyang Yangshan Better Life Future Community, as the first urban future community pilot project in Xinyang City, also took the lead in the inclusion in the SUC UN Guidelines for Sustainable Communities Pilot Project. So far, Xinyang City has officially kicked off the international and domestic "double pilots" construction at the two levels of urban and rural future communities. The international pilot certificate presentation ceremony is planned to be held at the first "International Forum on Ekistics-Tech and Urban-Rural Green Development" in Xinyang.