A town built by the people

Inspired by real events in Longgang, a new TV series tells the story of unprecedented urban development, Xu Fan reports.

Over 40 years ago, it would have been a dream come true for a Chinese farmer to leave the isolated countryside and become an urban resident. Such a shift in identity — marked by obtaining a hukou booklet, or household registration certificate — would bring a range of benefits, including access to healthcare, education, and better business opportunities.

This helps today's young viewers better understand one of the most gripping scenes in Xiao Cheng Da Shi (The Dream Maker), a popular television drama based on award-winning writer Zhu Xiaojun's nonfiction book Zhongguo Nongmincheng (Chinese Farmers City).

In one scene, an estimated 20,000 farmers from nearby villages flood into Yuehai, a town built on wetlands, eagerly paying a substantial sum for the right to use a parcel of land.

What makes it miraculous is how Yuehai's transformation — from barren wetlands to a town lined with skyscrapers and broad streets — was achieved: not a single penny came from state funds. Instead, it was financed entirely by ordinary people, a diverse group ranging from local farmers and private entrepreneurs to urban investors.