Sun Chengliang's family has become a symbol of educational success in a relocation community in Bijie, Guizhou province. Since the county's poverty alleviation relocation program began in 2018, the Jinshan Yin Street community—one of 70 national relocation sites housing over 10,000 people—has produced 1,192 undergraduate students, 81 master's students, and five doctoral students. This year, the community is celebrating another milestone, with Sun Chengliang particularly joyful as his family welcomes its fourth college student.
When his youngest daughter, Sun Xun, received her acceptance letter from her dream university, it marked the fourth child in the Sun Chengliang household to gain admission to higher education. In 2019, the family of seven moved from Axi Village in the mountains to Jinshan Community in Jinshan Yin Street. What attracted Sun Chengliang most to the city was the access to quality education.
Sun Chengliang explained to reporters that he was among the first residents to respond to the community's relocation policy, with the initial goal of securing better educational opportunities for his children. Growing up in poverty, he only completed third grade before dropping out to farm, and he deeply understands the limitations that a lack of education imposes on life. He was determined that his children would not repeat his fate or be constrained by educational conditions. "Even if I have to endure the hardest and most bitter life, I will make sure my children go to school," Sun Chengliang said.
After moving into their new home, the five children found themselves much closer to schools, and their dreams began to take them further. The eldest, Sun Jiao, was admitted to North China Institute of Science and Technology and now works in Shenzhen. The second child, Sun Niannian, realized her dream at Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The third, Sun Menglan, entered Southwest University last year, and this year, the fourth child, Sun Xun, received an acceptance letter from Jilin University.
Reflecting on his children's educational journeys, Sun Chengliang was overwhelmed with emotion. He admitted that he had never dared to dream that his children would attend college. "Living deep in the mountains, I knew nothing about '985' or '211' universities. Now, thanks to the relocation and the access to high-quality educational resources, my children are achieving better results year after year. Our whole family is filled with joy and gratitude," he said.
From a poor household to one with four university students, the acceptance letters have not only changed the life paths of the children but also illuminated the family's future. Sun Menglan, the third daughter, noted that her older sisters, after starting work, regularly send money and daily necessities back home. "I've realized that education truly can change your life. My sisters are doing better and better, and our future is looking brighter," she said.
Sun Xun, the youngest daughter, was admitted to the animal medicine program at Jilin University. "I love cats and dogs, so I chose animal medicine. I can finally start a different chapter of my life, and I will pursue my dreams with even more determination," she said.
These days, Sun Xun frequently visits the Jinshan Academy, a community library with over 20,000 books, which has become a popular study spot for local children. She is there preparing for an upcoming English exam. The director of the Jinshan Yin Street office, Ye Mingsheng, said, "The academy provides reading lists for students of different ages. We also collaborate with university volunteer teaching teams from Zhejiang University and Shandong University to organize learning exchanges and academic guidance, helping students set clear goals and find their direction."
From the library to the children's activity center and the cafeteria, Jinshan Yin Street has built a comprehensive support system for relocated residents, covering living, education, and healthcare. This year, among 155 candidates from the Jinshan community, five scored above 600 points, 26 above 500 points, and 75 achieved the cutoff for undergraduate programs. The director of the Hezhang County Education Bureau's Teaching Research Office, Guo Feng, noted, "The schools near the relocation sites are the most beautiful and best-equipped in the county. We have prioritized their staffing with top teachers and offer extracurricular activities to ensure students develop in all aspects—morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and labor-wise—so every child can enjoy their youth."
During the poverty alleviation campaign, 1.92 million people in Guizhou moved out of the mountains, making it the largest provincial relocation program in China. The move changed not just their housing conditions but also reshaped their thinking, employment, and lifestyles. The story of Sun Chengliang's family, with four children earning university places, is a genuine example of how education can break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in this massive migration. "Education changes destiny" has become a firm belief among relocated residents. The new communities are not only sending out "golden phoenixes" but also building the foundation and confidence for rural revitalization. This substantial achievement vividly illustrates the sense of gain, happiness, and security experienced by the 1.92 million relocated people in Guizhou.