Cuierzhuang Phenomenon: A model of rural industrialization in north China

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Cuierzhuang Phenomenon, a rural industrialization model in northern China driven by ICT, emphasizing regional cooperation, folk characteristics, and cross-regional economic integration, exemplified by Xinjiang jujube trade.

Contribution

It presents the Cuierzhuang Model as an innovative rural revitalization and regional economic cooperation approach distinct from previous models, highlighting its folk nature and spontaneous formation.

Findings

Long-distance Xinjiang jujube supply chain established

Regional economic principles analyzed

Challenges and opportunities identified

Abstract

Cuierzhuang Phenomenon (or Cuierzhuang Model) is a regional development phenomenon or rural revitalization model driven by ICT in the information era, characterized by the storage and transportation, processing, packaging and online sales of agricultural products, as well as online and offline coordination, long-distance and cross-regional economic cooperation, ethnic blending, equality, and mutual benefit. Unlike the Wenzhou Model, South Jiangsu Model, and Pearl River Model in the 1980s and 1990s, the Cuierzhuang Model is not only a rural revitalization brought about by the industrialization and modernization of northern rural areas with the characteristics of industrial development in the information age, but also an innovative regional economic cooperation and development model with folk nature, spontaneous formation, equality, and mutual benefit. Taking southern Xinjiang as the production base, Xinjiang jujubes from Hotan and Ruoqiang are continuously transported to Cuierzhuang, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, where they are transferred, cleaned, dried and packaged, and finally sold all over the country. With red dates as a link, the eastern town of Cuierzhuang, which is more than 4,000 kilometers apart, connected with Xinjiang in the western region. Along the ancient Silk Road, the farthest route can reach as far as Kashgar through the southern Xinjiang route. Then, how did this long-distance and cross-regional economic cooperation channel form, what are the regional economics or economic geography principles of Cuierzhuang attracting Xinjiang jujube, and the challenges and opportunities faced by Cuierzhuang phenomenon, etc. A preliminary economic analysis has been carried out in this paper.