Voices from the front lines

As this year's two sessions — a term for China's annual meetings of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body — convene in Beijing, four individuals from vastly different corners of the country bring with them the voices of their communities.

Though their journeys begin in places as varied as a cliffside village and a factory warehouse, they share a common mission: turning local dreams into national policies.

For Zheng Wangchun, a deputy to the National People's Congress, the challenge lies in sustaining the newfound fame of his cliff-top village, which was once accessible only by a vine ladder. As Party chief of Gulu village, Hanyuan county in Sichuan province, he has watched his once-isolated and impoverished community transform into a tourist draw after videos of its dramatic mountain trail went viral.

But rather than riding the wave, he has worked to build something lasting. He helped villagers open homestays, set up scenic viewpoints, and develop local specialties like walnuts and peppers. This year, he focuses on practical needs: improving infrastructure, supporting elderly residents and children, and ensuring rural vitalization continues to move forward.