For rural residents, roads serve as vital lifelines connecting them to the outside world. A wide, smooth rural road near one's home not only ensures convenient travel but also carries hopes for increased income and a better life. Since 2022, Huanan County has constructed a total of 228 kilometers of rural roads. These newly built pathways are quietly transforming the lives of local farmers.
During a recent visit to several villages in Huanan County, villagers shared stories of life after the road improvements. Grain transportation costs have decreased, and incomes have risen. Liu Wenfeng, a resident of Dachaijia Village in Tulongshan Town, was busy maintaining his agricultural machinery in preparation for spring planting. This year, he has cultivated over 300 acres of land. "After the road was repaired, it only takes 30 minutes to drive to the county to buy seeds and fertilizer. Before, the bumpy roads made the trip take over an hour, and transporting supplies back was a real headache," Liu said.
The 52-year-old lifelong resident recalled that before the road was upgraded, transporting grain after the autumn harvest required more than ten small tractors due to the poor road conditions, significantly raising costs. In 2023, Huanan County built a 6.4-kilometer rural road linking Tulongshan Town to Shengli Village. Though just a few kilometers long, this road brought substantial improvements to Liu Wenfeng and other villagers along the route. "The new road is flat and wide. It’s not only easier for villagers to travel, but grain transportation costs have also dropped considerably," Liu noted happily. Now, only three small tractors are needed to haul the autumn harvest, reducing the transport cost per acre from 40 yuan to 10 yuan. For over 300 acres, that means nearly 10,000 yuan in annual savings.
With better road access, grain buyers from other regions are more willing to come to the village. Thanks to his improved income, Liu has purchased several large agricultural machines. Zhang Yanfeng from Shengli Village shares similar sentiments. "With the road open, we can sell corn for an extra 0.01 yuan per kilogram, which means over 30 yuan more per acre. For my family’s hundred acres, that’s a real increase in earnings," he said. Smoother roads have also lifted villagers’ spirits, and more people are eager to participate in community activities.
Children no longer need to take long detours to school, and medical visits are no longer a source of anxiety. Ai Min, a resident of Dachaijia Village, tends to his vegetable garden while gazing at the straight rural road outside his home. He mentioned that since the new road was built, children from the village no longer have to take lengthy alternate routes to school. The distance to the town’s primary school is only 1.5 kilometers, but due to severe road damage and safety concerns—especially during rain or snow—students previously had to travel five or six kilometers, taking 20 to 30 minutes. Winters were particularly harsh. "Back then, both adults and children wished for a wide, smooth village road," Ai recalled.
After the road was rebuilt two years ago, villagers were overjoyed. The new road, measuring six meters wide, allows children to reach town in just five minutes. Those with elderly family members also expressed relief. In the past, poor road conditions made it difficult to seek medical care in emergencies. Now, it is easy to travel to town or the county for part-time work or medical visits. "We no longer have to worry about not being able to get timely medical help for our elders," one villager remarked.
Large agricultural machinery can now enter villages, boosting local productivity. Lu Xiaojiang, a resident of Huamugang Village in Yanjia Town, recently brought back agricultural supplies from the county and stored them in the village warehouse before inspecting the large tractor he purchased last year. "The old village road to town was terrible—muddy on rainy days, full of potholes when dry. Driving on it was hard on vehicles," he said.
In 2022, Huanan County built a 27.8-kilometer third-class road connecting Yanjia Town to Tulongshan Town, significantly improving rural transportation along the route. "Now we have a smooth road right outside our homes that leads to the county and even connects to the highway to Harbin via Yilan. We’re no longer afraid to travel," Lu said. Though not a large-scale farmer, Lu cultivates over 160 acres of land. Thanks to reliable roads and stable grain prices, his family’s income has grown steadily over the past two years. "Last year, I spent over 30,000 yuan on a large agricultural tractor. Many big farmers in the village have also invested in new machinery—everyone is motivated," he added.
Liu Chunjiang, another resident of Huamugang Village, emphasized how a single smooth road has transformed villagers’ lives. Not only are households becoming more prosperous, but it is also easier for people to take on side jobs or handle errands during the off-farming season. "We can now transport fresh vegetables from our gardens to the morning market in the county and sell them at a good price," Liu said happily.
A road shortens distances, lowers costs, connects people to markets, and warms hearts. In Huanan, the interwoven network of rural roads has become a tangible path to prosperity, convenience, and happiness.
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