'I will never forget everything Liangjiahe has given me'

The Mid-Autumn Festival stirs a profound sense of homesickness among the Chinese people. For President Xi Jinping, this sentiment is particularly tied to places where he dedicated his efforts.

Liangjiahe, nestled in the arid landscapes of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, is a recurring theme in Xi's narratives. 

In the late 1960s, Xi departed Beijing for the village of Liangjiahe, immersing himself in the life of a rural laborer. Seven years were spent toiling alongside farmers, enduring separation from his family, sleeping in cave dwellings, contending with flea bites, and engaging in the relentless work of tending crops, herding sheep, carrying manure, and hauling coal.

Upon bidding farewell to Liangjiahe, Xi expressed deep gratitude to its residents for their selfless acceptance and support. "I will never forget everything Liangjiahe has given me," he said.

"Don't sever genuine connections due to distance, lose sight of true feelings amid a hectic life, or overlook your core emotions amidst the hustle and bustle," Xi emphasized at a Spring Festival gathering in 2017.