-Post-95- youth in Gaoping, Shanxi -go in both directions- with the beautiful countryside

Recently, as the filming location for “Black Myth: Wukong,” Tiefo Temple in Gaoping has gained immense popularity, and local youth Zhang Jiaqi, born in the 1990s, has become a well-known figure for his approachable explanations of the site, attracting a significant following.

Gaoping City has been making focused efforts to promote the growth of selected young officials working in villages. To address challenges in management and support, the city has implemented a strategy based on three key assurances: scientifically determining village assignments, precise management, and comprehensive evaluation. Zhang Jiaqi is one of the beneficiaries of this initiative, having been selected in 2022 to serve in Mishi Village, Mi Township.

Upon his arrival in the village, Zhang discovered a connection to the Tiefo Temple, which sparked his journey as a grassroots worker. “It embodies the hopes of the villagers and marks my growth,” he recalls. With a “hometown diary” in hand, he set out to explore the village and learn about Tiefo Temple from the local elders. Combining his interest in history with research during his free time, he consulted scholars in historical preservation to delve deeper into the temple’s intriguing past.

Previously closed to the public, Zhang enriched the preservation records of Tiefo Temple by talking to experts, and began transforming this information into engaging narratives. “I felt Tiefo Temple deserved its own introduction. These explanations would eventually be useful,” he said.

To achieve this, Zhang collaborated with local officials to simplify complicated preservation materials into accessible explanations. His biggest challenge was the lack of an audience until August, when the temple opened its doors to the public for free in response to the influx of visitors drawn by “Black Myth: Wukong.”

Even with visitor limits in place, Zhang accommodates around 1,500 guests daily. “Given the small space and preservation considerations, only a limited number of guests can enter the temple at a time, so I conduct nearly a hundred tours each day without pause.”

Before the game was even announced, Zhang had teamed up with Mishi Village’s paper-cutting heritage practitioners and local art students to create designs related to the temple. They produced cultural products like phone cases and paper-cut art. “I didn’t foresee the temple’s newfound fame. I just wanted to leave something meaningful for the village and Tiefo Temple before moving on,” he explained. To Zhang’s surprise, the day after the temple’s surge in popularity, these phone cases also gained significant attention. “The enthusiasm for the Tiefo Temple merchandise felt like recognition and encouragement to me.”

Leveraging the “Internet + Party Building” model in Mishi Village, Zhang’s team facilitated sales of cultural products that generated over 60,000 yuan for the village collective.

This year, Gaoping City has integrated the placement of selected young officials into a unified management strategy under the “New Generation of Rural Revitalization.” Zhang has honed his video production skills through training programs, and his promotional videos for Tiefo Temple have garnered over 1.6 million views on platforms like Douyin.

“My vision is to build a bridge of communication between visitors and history,” Zhang shared. As part of the new generation dedicated to rural revitalization, he sees it as his responsibility to safeguard the village and its heritage.