Dong Cuiling leverages festive events to promote local agricultural specialties.
As the principal of Liaoning Lingxiushan Vocational Education and Training School, Dong Cuiling recently completed a 12-day provincial "Leading Goose" training program for rural industry leaders, winning first place in a project pitch competition. Selected as one of 20 outstanding participants, she is now advancing to the next phase of mentorship under Shenyang Agricultural University professors to refine her business model.
This rare opportunity has strengthened her resolve to transition from a "rural influencer" to an "e-commerce industry leader."
A post-85s graduate in performance and hosting from Liaoning Normal University, Dong is widely known by her online alias "Old Dong’s Third Daughter." In September 2023, she left a 13-year career as a media executive to return to her hometown, documenting local culture and promoting native products—particularly Liaoyang’s jumbo hazelnuts, a nationally recognized geographical indication product.
Through daily travels to hazelnut orchards and live-streamed e-commerce festivals, Dong has elevated these specialties to national markets. Her efforts earned her titles like "Liaoyang Cultural Tourism Ambassador" and "2024 Provincial Rural E-commerce Leader," with appearances on CCTV programs such as *Open the Door* and *Rural Revitalization Journey* to advocate for hometown products.
Recognizing the limitations of solo efforts, Dong shifted focus to training others. Her media workshops teach villagers smartphone filming techniques to showcase their goods. One retired village party secretary from Fushun successfully attracted urban tourists through his videos, revitalizing local commerce.
Dong’s philosophy: "Empowering one leader can transform a village." The trainees’ enthusiasm reaffirms her belief that nurturing new-generation farmers holds greater value than individual sales.
With the "Leading Goose" initiative’s support, Dong has expanded her vision. Beyond training over 1,000 farmers and returnee entrepreneurs, her team collaborates with Lingxiushan Group to revitalize provincial e-commerce hubs, foster university-industry talent pipelines, and build traceable supply chains for premium agricultural products.
From solo content creation to systemic teamwork, Dong’s five-year plan aims to ensure market access for farm products and entrepreneurial platforms for youth—laying a pragmatic foundation for rural revitalization.
**Reflection: Rural Revitalization Needs More 'Leading Geese'** Dong’s journey from individual effort to collective action mirrors the metamorphosis of modern farmers in rural development.
As the 2025 Central No. 1 Document highlights, cultivating industry leaders—especially in emerging sectors—is critical. These "Leading Geese" determine whether rural industries can soar collectively.
Their initiative and creativity directly impact revitalization outcomes. Policymakers must provide substantive incentives to unleash their potential as catalysts for rural growth.
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