China

A century-old bond between an American family and China’s Qinghai province

Published

1 month ago

September 23, 2026

By Gong Shijian, Qiao Dong, Jiang Meng, People’s Daily

On Sept. 10, inside his home in Springfield, Missouri, 95-year-old David Victor Plymire carefully opened Imprints, a cherished photo album. One image, captured in 1942, depicted a sweeping vista of Dangar Ancient Town in Huangyuan county, northwest China’s Qinghai province, with six children standing on a hillside.

“That’s me.” David recalled during a video call, effortlessly switching into the local Huangyuan dialect. “I was just a teenager then. No matter where life takes me, I’ll always consider myself a son of Huangyuan.”

On the other end of the screen lay Huangyuan, Qinghai. Wang Shikang, former president of Huangyuan county people’s hospital, greeted him warmly in the local dialect: “Brother David, the mutton is all set for your return.”

David’s eyes softened, and his voice caught. “Every quiet moment reminds me of everyone here. I miss you all deeply.”

In Huangyuan, David is a beloved local figure, affectionately known as “Mr. Big-Nose.” His story has endured across generations, even inspiring a children’s rhyme that residents still sing today.

The nickname belies a deeper truth: a cross-cultural friendship spanning more than a century and two generations of an American family.

The story began in 1932, when one-year-old David crossed the Pacific with his father, Victor Plymire, arriving in Huangyuan. Victor had first come to China in 1908. After years spent across Gansu and Qinghai provinces, he ultimately chose Huangyuan as his permanent home.

To the residents of Huangyuan, Victor was never seen as an outsider. Modest and genuine, he embraced local customs, diligently learned both Mandarin and the Tibetan language, applied his training in Western medicine to offer free healthcare to communities of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

David spent his formative years in Huangyuan. Its landscapes, flora, streets, and hills were etched into his memory like second nature.

Decades later, he relocated with his family, living in Hong Kong and other parts of China for over thirty years before finally settling in Missouri in the United States.

Yet for David, the eastern foothills of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, where the Huangshui River originates, have always been home. The farther he drifted, the stronger his sense of belonging grew.

In 1987, after 38 years abroad, David returned to Huangyuan. Walking familiar streets and reuniting with old neighbors and friends, he felt an immediate urge to give back to the place that shaped him.

“He toured numerous facilities and quickly focused on hospitals desperately in need of modern medical equipment,” recalled Li Lin, former head of Huangyuan health bureau.

In March 1989, David and his sister, Mary Ann, purchased an ultrasound machine in Hong Kong for HK$ 150,000 (about $19,100), a critical gap for the county hospital. With commercial shipping unavailable at the time, David personally transported the unit, flying it from Hong Kong to Xi’an, Shaanxi province, and then on to Huangyuan.

Over the next three decades, David crossed the Pacific more than twenty times. Whenever he had funds to spare, his thoughts invariably turned to supporting the hospital.

“Contrary to what some might assume, David was never wealthy,” Wang noted. “Every dollar he donated was raised through personal networks, charitable foundations, and private contributions”.

By 1999, David funded a $350,000 CT scanner for the county hospital — a significant luxury for a facility of its level at the time.

“We urgently needed one, but the cost was so prohibitive that we hesitated to even ask,” Li admitted. Once aware of the hospital’s needs, David embarked on a fundraising campaign. By June 2000, the CT scanner had arrived in Huangyuan, making the county hospital one of only a handful of regional facilities equipped with such technology.

Li also recalls accompanying David on visits to several township clinics.

“Clinic conditions were rudimentary,” he explained. “Residents with even minor ailments often had to travel to the county seat — or sometimes the provincial capital — for basic exams. It was time-consuming and expensive. David was visibly moved by what he witnessed.”

“He didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he quietly raised $10,000 and donated four ultrasound machines to four separate township clinics.” Through these efforts — and with contributions from family and friends — David has helped donate over 6 million yuan ($895,836) worth of medical equipment to Huangyuan County. The shipments included ultrasound units, gastroscopes, ECG monitors, automated hematology analyzers, and anesthesia machines.

During a recent video conference, Huang Jiong, the current director of Huangyuan county people’s hospital, shared a telling statistic: the facility now serves 300,000 outpatient visits annually, despite a county having a population of just over 100,000.

“That capacity exists because of your unwavering support and generosity,” Huang told David.

When a People’s Daily journalist asked what had sustained him through the decades, David’s response was simple yet profound. “It’s a quiet conviction in my heart — I have to keep doing this, because these people are my family,” he said. “Some call my work a great contribution to my adopted hometown. I don’t see it that way. It’s not charity; it’s responsibility. It’s simply the right thing to do.”

Today, David’s legacy is formally woven into the hospital’s archives. According to Huang, hearing his story is the very first orientation given to every new staff member.

The hospital is also preparing to open a dedicated museum chronicling its evolution, where David’s donated equipment, decades of correspondence, and vintage photographs will be permanently exhibited.

Yet David’s impact extends far beyond medical infrastructure. Recognizing the transformative power of education for children on the plateau, he facilitated partnerships with international educators and organized English-language training programs for local primary and secondary school teachers.

His father, Victor, was also a gifted photographer. Over the years, he documented hundreds of images capturing daily life, culture, and landscapes across Gansu, Qinghai, and Xizang autonomous region.

David has since donated hundreds of these historically significant photographs to Huangyuan county. They formed the foundation of Imprints, a published photo album that has since been archived in China’s national documentary collections. Thanks to Victor’s lens, the visual history of this western Chinese county has been preserved for nearly a century.

Tragedy struck in 1927, when Victor’s first wife and their young son, John, succumbed to smallpox in Huangyuan. They were laid to rest on a northern hillside.

In 2016, David’s sister Mary Ann passed away in Canada. Before her death, she expressed a heartfelt wish: to have her ashes returned to Huangyuan. Her family fulfilled that request, bringing her remains to the county.

During the call, the journalist shared that local residents have consistently maintained the family gravesite over the years. A tree, planted alongside the resting place, has grown tall and strong.

“That tree stands as a living symbol of China-American friendship,” the journalist remarked. “It reflects the enduring bond between Huangyuan and your family. May it continue to thrive, just as your connection has.” David’s voice caught, overcome with emotion.

“Thank you to the people of Huangyuan for taking such good care of the cemetery. I’m very grateful,” he said.

Now 95, David is no longer able to return to Huangyuan because of his physical condition. But whenever he speaks by phone with his old friends there, his fluent Huangyuan dialect instantly brings back the unmistakable flavor of home.

From Victor’s arrival on Chinese soil in 1908 to David’s virtual “return” to his hometown of Huangyuan in 2026, two generations and more than a century have passed, but the longing for home across the Pacific has never faded.

China

The story behind ‘people’s apples’

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

Our Reporter

By Zhang Yang, Liu Hongchao, People’s Daily

During the summer vacation, the Liaoshen Campaign Memorial in Jinzhou, northeast China’s Liaoning province, has seen a constant flow of visitors. Hanging quietly on the wall inside the Hall of Martyrs is a time-worn silk banner bearing the words “An Army of Benevolence and Righteousness,” behind which lies a poignant historical tale.

Behind the banner is a moving story.

During the 1948 Liaoshen Campaign, orchards surrounding Jinzhou were heavy with ripe apples. Passing through the area, People’s Liberation Army soldiers were exhausted and thirsty, but not a single one picked an apple. The people’s army, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, won the hearts of the people through its strict discipline.

“Here the fighters were conscious that not eating the apples was noble, whereas to eat them would have been ignoble. They knew the apples belonged to the people,” Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted late Chairman Mao Zedong’s comments on the story during an inspection tour to Liaoning in 2022.

Decades later, the tale endures as a powerful symbol of integrity.

Today, as China deepens its efforts to promote clean governance and institutional accountability, the story is being actively revived to inspire contemporary officials.

About a 20-minute drive from the Liaoshen Campaign Memorial is the Jinzhou Apple Integrity Education Base, where a sculpture entitled the “People’s Apples” stands out. Inside the special‑themed exhibition hall, docent Sun Yimeng was giving a vivid account, guiding visitors through historical photos and precious cultural relics.

“We take the ‘People’s Apples’ as our underlying theme to convey to every visitor the Communist Party of China’s fine conduct, strict discipline and original aspiration to serve the people, ” said Sun.

“Declining the apples reflects discipline; avoiding even the smallest exploitation of citizens demonstrates dedication to public service. We must carry forward the revolutionary heritage, uphold our revolutionary legacy, foster and put into practice a correct approach to evaluating political performance, exercise power with integrity, and effectively protect and advance the interests of the people,” said Guan Hua, an official with the Jinzhou municipal people’s congress, during a study visit.

Jinzhou has translated this historical lesson into actionable governance. On one front, the city enforces a zero-tolerance stance toward corruption in sectors directly impacting livelihoods, including rural collective assets, healthcare, and education. Targeted campaigns have been launched to root out misconduct that harms ordinary citizens. On another, Jinzhou focuses on “growing apples for the people” by improving the business climate. The local government has institutionalized dialogue with enterprises, established direct policy-delivery channels, and implemented 32 regulatory frameworks to streamline operations and support sustainable growth.

Clean governance, officials stress, is not merely about restraint — it is a foundation for effective public service. To embed accountability into daily operations, inspectors from Jinzhou’s Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection now work alongside staff at the city’s 12345 public service hotline and government service centers. A QR code-based oversight system has been rolled out across all 283 service windows, enabling real-time feedback and monitoring. The results are tangible: government services in Jinzhou have become increasingly standardized and efficient. Over 900 administrative procedures can now be completed on the same day, with many finalized in under two hours.

From a wartime promise of restraint to a modern blueprint for transparent administration, the “People’s Apples” story continues to remind officials that true authority flows from serving the people with integrity.

“The tests of the times keep evolving, yet our original aspiration to serve the people remains unchanging,” said Zhao Yu, an official with the Jinzhou municipal commission for discipline inspection. “We unswervingly uphold rigorous discipline, nurture a sound and upright political climate to edify the public and bolster high-quality development. We must never take the people’s apples.”

China

China taps digital technology to advance integrity education

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

Our Reporter

By Yang Wenming, Bai Guangdi, Su Bin, People’s Daily

Integrity has long been a cornerstone of Chinese cultural tradition. Throughout the more than 100-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a commitment to integrity, public service, and serving the people has remained a defining part of its endeavors.

In recent years, local governments across China have increasingly turned to digital tools to strengthen integrity education. By consolidating resources and designing interactive online platforms, authorities are helping anti-corruption and ethical governance principles take deeper root among both civil servants and the general public.

Not long ago, Chen Zhaomeng, an official with the Zhujie subdistrict in Qilin district, Qujing, southwest China’s Yunnan province, needed to organize an integrity education activity for her Party branch. Using a mobile mini-program called “Map of Integrity in Yunnan,” she quickly found a suitable venue in Shizong county, about a 90-minute drive from Qilin district, and booked a visit to the former residence of Dou Xu in Zhuji township.

The former residence of Dou Xu is a traditional courtyard compound. Dou Xu was an upright and incorruptible official during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) who strictly enforced the law and handled cases impartially. Stories of his integrity have been passed down among local people.

Guided by an exhibition docent, the group toured the former residence in an orderly manner and learned about the virtues of Dou Xu’s good family tradition.

To facilitate integrity education at the grassroots level, the Yunnan provincial commission for discipline inspection launched the “Map of Integrity in Yunnan” mini-program. It provides detailed information on venues and facilities dedicated to integrity culture across the province.

Historical stories associated with each integrity education base are brought to life through short videos, while map navigation, recommended routes, opening hours, and reservation information are also provided.

Yunnan’s initiative reflects a broader national trend. Similar digital platforms have been rolled out in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, and Guiyang, Guizhou province.

In Lianyungang, municipal disciplinary authorities have linked 16 distinct integrity education sites into a unified network, establishing a citywide “Integrity and Clean Governance Map.”

Meanwhile, Guiyang’s disciplinary commission has catalogued local heritage sites related to ethical governance and launched the “Guiyang Integrity Map” via the city’s official website and WeChat channel. The platform organizes provincial, municipal, county, and community-level education centers into a single searchable interface, offering practical guides and essential visiting information for officials and citizens alike.

Launching these digital platforms is only the beginning; their real value lies in how they are activated. The Lianyungang municipal commission for discipline inspection has worked with local publicity authorities, universities and other institutions to transform these mapped sites into key hubs for civil servant training, thematic party-building activities, and cautionary case studies.

At the same time, the city has expanded the reach and influence of the map by producing a series of short videos, developing online virtual reality exhibition halls and designing high-quality learning routes. Since its launch, the platform has attracted more than 200,000 Party members, officials and members of the public for visits and study.

China

China firm advocate of, doer in reforming, improving global governance

Published

4 days ago

November 2, 2026

Our Reporter

By He Yin, People’s Daily

On Oct. 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to the 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong’an), further elaborating on the importance of reforming and improving the global governance system and charting the course for advancing the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). The letter demonstrated China’s sense of responsibility and its willingness to work with other countries to build a more just and equitable world.

Xi put forward the GGI in September 2025, a much-needed initiative that offers solutions to bridge the governance deficit and build a better future. In just over a year, the initiative has gained the support of more than 160 countries and international organizations. Over 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance. Its core elements have been incorporated into the documents of multilateral fora such as the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

The past year has underscored the great contemporary value of the GGI, with its appeal and influence continuing to grow. The initiative has become an important public good warmly embraced by the international community.

The international community regards the GGI as a stalwart for multilateralism as the international landscape is undergoing a profound shift, and a safeguard for fairness and justice as the law of the jungle makes a comeback. To many in the world, the GGI provides a clear pathway to shared development and security and much-needed certainty for a turbulent world.

Beyond championing the GGI, China has taken decisive steps to translate its vision into practice. Since its launch, China has advanced multiple proposals to promote peace and stability in conflict zones such as the Middle East, voluntarily waived demands for additional special and differential treatment in World Trade Organization negotiations, and introduced new forms of international public goods, such as the International Organization for Mediation and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

The GGI is widely regarded by people of foresight around the world as a remedy for and improvement on the existing international system, and a crystallization of Chinese wisdom that will shape a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable world.

The 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong’an), held in Xiong’an New Area in north China’s Hebei province, marked a major step by China in working with other countries around the world to put the GGI into practice.

Under the theme “Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation: Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World,” participants exchanged ideas and learned from one another. Their discussions addressed both the need to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the governance of emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and outer space.

Through dialogue and communication, they sought to build consensus and develop joint solutions, contributing to international efforts to tackle governance challenges and reform and improve global governance.

More than a policy dialogue, the forum offers the international community a tangible look at China’s governance philosophy. In just nine years, Xiong’an New Area has transformed from a planned development zone into a dynamic innovation hub and a showcase of high-quality urban development. By engaging with this “city of the future,” attendees witnessed firsthand how China’s governance model — centered on people-first development, ecological sustainability, technological innovation, and long-term planning — has translated into measurable progress.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat in the United Nations. As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of its Security Council, China has consistently upheld and practiced multilateralism.

At the forum, China announced eight practical actions to advance global governance. These include ensuring the success of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, continuing to engage deeply in United Nations reform and encouraging the Group of Friends of Global Governance to play a bigger role.

The country called on all parties to uphold the central role of the United Nations, practice the values of fairness and justice, bolster the strength of the Global South for better global governance, advance in the direction of openness and development, and improve the rules of governance in emerging fields.

These measures clearly demonstrate China’s firm resolve to work with other countries to steer global governance toward greater fairness and equity. They also provide a roadmap for joint efforts to implement the GGI in the next stage.

An African media outlet commented that the forum’s significance lies in its efforts to foster a more open, balanced and constructive dialogue on the future of international relations.

Global governance serves the common interests of all nations, and requires the collective effort of the international community. China stands ready to work with all parties to uphold a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, build strength through confidence and overcome challenges through cooperation.

Together, the international community can advance the implementation of the GGI, bring greater certainty and positive energy to a world fraught with change and turbulence, and work hand in hand toward a community with a shared future for humanity.