My Lord, you need to stand up!

Chapter 555 Enjoy the Smoothness
In the final paragraph, the old leader was helped up by Lao Geng and Director Zi, who each supported him on one shoulder.

The man, who is in his sixties, is still quite healthy. He even appeared on the basketball court with Rang Weidong two years ago.

Only then can one withstand the arduous journey of this extremely long trail, which is definitely over ten kilometers long.

But standing on the simple viewing platform, it was all worth it.

The Three Gorges is about 200 kilometers long, and this is both the starting point and the highest point.

Looking eastward downstream, one can see a vast expanse of towering peaks resembling eggshells.

Looking westward, one feels a sense of pride as one looks back at the basin.

The entire Sichuan Basin surrounds the Chengdu Plain, and its outer perimeter is as solid as the rim of the basin.

It was said in ancient times that the Shu Road was more difficult than ascending to heaven, and this was the only gap through which one could get out.

To reach the Tea Horse Road in southern Yunnan, one had to cross mountains and valleys to get out. Even after liberation, trains would enter through tunnels from the northeast corner.

Therefore, the gap in the southeast corner has been the most important channel for transportation outward from the entire basin from ancient times to the present and into the future.

Standing at this peak, besides subconsciously having all sorts of hallucinatory feelings of extreme aerobic exercise, such as "A true man should live like this," "Leaving Baidi City amidst colorful clouds at dawn," "Nothing in the world is more magnificent than this," and "Looking down on all the mountains from above," you will also truly experience a change in perspective and altitude.

Standing tall, you can see really far.

It all depends on whether you're learning to appreciate the scenery or to reflect on life.

It was already afternoon, and the late May sun was scorching hot on my body, but I didn't feel hot because the feeling of being in a cold place at a high altitude overpowered the temperature.

Perhaps on rainy days or in winter, it will be shrouded in a sea of ​​clouds.

Now it's bright and clear under the bright sunlight.

Everything was laid out before my eyes.

Even the mighty Yangtze River now meanders away like an earthworm, and looking around at the surrounding mountains, they all seem to submit and stretch to the horizon.

The beautiful scenery of the gorge could not suppress my boundless ambition and passionate spirit.

It's as if you could reach out and pluck the clouds from the sky.

Is this what it feels like to rule the world?
unreal.

The old leaders stood there blankly, looking around.

Director Zi even took out paper and pen and stood beside him, ready to jot down something at any moment.

But the old leader, turning around, only nodded to Wei Dong: "Indeed, we must bring all this scenery to everyone."

Make Weidong smile. Hmm, come on, let me take a picture of you.

The old leader even straightened his collar very seriously.

Director Zi, could you please move aside a little bit? You're trying to get a photo taken without permission.

Wei Dong was determined not to give him that opportunity.

Who told you to offend me this morning?

The real concern is that if this guy continues to act out of character and causes trouble, he might use photos of himself with someone to swindle and deceive people, which would be utterly ridiculous.

Qin Yuye had already taken control of the camera, carrying it on his shoulder and moving the wide-angle lens at a steady pace with a high level of professional skill, trying not to film people, but only to record this extraordinary scenery.

At least let Hong Kong see the beautiful scenery that Wei Tung developed.

Anyone who still boasts about the scenery of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong is just being petty.

Li Erfeng and Lamu had to help her, and be careful on this viewing platform where there were hardly any railings.

The engineers have immediately begun the survey.

Only by standing on the summit can you confirm that it's like a pyramid cut diagonally, resulting in three ridge lines.

The path leading up from the gorge is actually the longest and furthest, because you have to cross several mountains to reach the starting point of the scenic area.

What was originally a straight path of three or four kilometers has been extended to a trail of about ten kilometers.

The steepest part is on the other side, leading to the riverbank, and then the gentlest part is towards the back.

The mountain people were in high spirits and found the climb a piece of cake, enthusiastically introducing the Taoist temple behind them where an old immortal resided.

While talking with the engineers, Wei Dong thought to himself, "Wait, after we finish our meeting and talk about work, we'll go visit the old immortal later. Oh, Ram, get the food ready."

Dawa, Lao Geng, and the engineers still carried bags and engineering surveying instruments.

Ram and Stone laid out a picnic blanket on a large rock nearby, and there was also tea to boil. Dawa quickly said that he was good at this.

The mountain people quickly and happily grabbed some eggs and cakes, then ran off, clearly not for themselves.

The old leader picked up his teacup and began to listen to Rang Weidong and the engineers discuss the matter.

Actually, standing here at this height, it becomes clear immediately.

The simplest solution would be to lay a cable car directly down the ridgeline on the lower side of the river. The valley is probably only one or two kilometers from the riverbank. A small dock could be built at the bottom of the valley and the riverbank, and tourists could be dropped off, walk one or two kilometers down the valley floor, and then take the cable car up. That would be perfect.

Old Geng even suggested that it would be even more perfect to hide the ancient city in this valley. He felt that at the entrance of the scenic area, a gap would have to be blasted open on the hillside to clear a flat area before the ancient city could be built, while the valley floor here was much flatter and simpler.

Wei Dong only knew that a building had been built on this mountaintop, but he had never actually seen it.

But his current understanding is truly profound: "We must always remember why we built this tourist attraction. Is it to make money? No, building buildings and selling products are much easier and faster ways to make money. Is it to make the scenery known throughout the country and the world? In essence, no. We are here to help people escape poverty and become wealthy, so that as many locals as possible can benefit from it, rather than letting tourism companies and scenic spots make money from it."

It's hard to say how much of Wei Dong's attitude reflects his true thoughts, but it's certainly the most appropriate in this era and in this setting.

Just like Hong Tiancheng and others who later fell into the huge trap of contracted enterprises, the dispute over contracted management rights and property rights led to the downfall of many entrepreneurs during the reform and opening up.

The contracting and operation of tourist attractions, as well as the ownership of the property rights, have become embroiled in disputes.

Capable business owners, after achieving success, are certainly not content to be just ordinary employees, especially those in a country where they can only earn very low wages.

Trying to circumvent this property rights restriction is considered stealing state-owned assets or embezzlement.

The property rights authorities, on the other hand, will only think that their scenic area is awesome, and will almost always have a condescending and ignorant attitude of "if you can do it, so can I".

Then they took back each scenic area and put it under their own management.

Aside from the top-tier, famous scenic spots, there are countless examples of places that have never recovered and have become deserted.

Of course, tourist attractions are easier to manage than manufacturing products. After all, the product's inherent strengths are there, and if you maintain them well, things won't be too bad.

But in 1986, when tourist attractions were not yet industrialized in this way, Weidong launched a completely new model that was quite unique.

This refers to an open scenic area model that prioritizes local residents over the functions and property rights of the scenic area itself.

In an era without comparable examples, no one could see the ruthlessness in his actions.

Tourism resources have been squeezed out of state-owned scenic areas.

As for the future, it's not about who has money to persuade and lead the masses.

In short, the relevant functional departments have been severely suppressed, and the benefits have been given to the local people.

Can these scenic spots really help the county or prefecture-level city's finances?
The old leader who has been in charge of this area for decades knows it all too well.

They're nothing special, so how much money can you expect from these insignificant government departments?
All they're after are various grants.

Wei Dong completed the trail in just over a quarter of a year without asking for a single penny, and it was obvious that it would bring about a qualitative leap in the income of the surrounding communes and brigades.

The tourism sector would never do that; even if there were some profits, they would be consumed by various "busy" activities.

It will never be used to support impoverished rural areas.

Although Rang Weidong and Rang Weidong, both in their sixties, have vastly different positions in Shangzhou, they share the same understanding of this point in their work.

What does poverty alleviation have to do with my tourism and education departments? These departments will never relinquish the rights they control.

It was precisely in 1986, when the tourism department was nothing and had no say, that Wei Dong, in his capacity as the Tourism Development Corporation, decisively and ruthlessly cut off the opening of tourism resources.

That courtyard where Baidi entrusted his son to Zhuge Liang, it's just a bunch of clay sculptures and exhibition halls, and the only tourist attraction is the iron chain that blocks the river.

The rest were handed over to the communes and brigades in the surrounding areas.

The stunning scenery atop this mountain is not a private property of the scenic area; it is directly distributed to the people.

So it was just right for the old leader to hear this in 1986.

He had been urging Wei Dong to break the ice on reform and seek change for this impoverished mountainous area, and he agreed wholeheartedly: "Let's do it this way! The Tourism Development Corporation is developing the scenery in a way that benefits the people. This is a direct allocation of tourism resources from the city. The tourism and education departments should just mind their own business."

This point became even more apparent during the "journey" to the small canyon on the second day.

The route shown by the Taoist priest happened to coincide with that of Wei Dong.

According to Wei Dong's approach, directly using yachts to take tourists to the riverbank and then using cable cars to bring them up along the valley would not benefit the surrounding villagers at all. In fact, because it would take away a lot of business, it might even lead to escalating conflicts in the future.

At this moment, having received a report from the villagers, the Taoist priest, displaying an air of otherworldly wisdom, came over from the back mountain.

He leisurely picked up a whisk and walked along the dirt road towards the gentlest ridge behind him. Just as he was about to say something as if it were a chance encounter, he looked up and saw his old leader, and froze.

The old leader looked at the guy with disbelief: "When did you get here?!"

Of those present, perhaps only Xiaodie witnessed her father's encounter with the Daoist Master Chi at the Shangzhou Back Mountain Park.

Seeing this elderly man with gray hair tied in a bun, I couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"

Wei Dongcai was a little shocked. The cliff park in the city center was not far from the city compound.

This old Taoist priest could peacefully write and draw on it for so many years, running a dilapidated Taoist temple, and it wasn't cleaned up during the "Destroy the Four Olds" campaign a few years ago, which shows he has some skill.

Fortunately, this guy was probably good at spouting nonsense: "The path of cultivation is long and arduous; only with a calm mind and tranquil spirit can one go far. I've longed to come to this spiritual mountain for enlightenment for many years. I never expected that when I finally put my plans into action, I would encounter villagers who said they were entrusted by the government to open up the sacred mountain path. Asking about the Dao is easy, but attaining it is difficult. This road may be long, but it leads to profound understanding..."

While Wei Dong was cursing, he also secretly gave him a thumbs up, thinking, "Not bad, he can mix up this and that way into one."

The old leader was clearly familiar with his rambling tone and remained unaffected: "So what's good about it?"

The Taoist priest said respectfully, "The methods are numerous but not simplified, the essence of the Tao is invaluable. This action is not for personal gain or profit, but to allow more people to experience and understand the Tao, and to bring blessings to the villagers along the way that can last for many years. This is the true path to prosperity, and Kuizhou will surely benefit from it..."

That's a really smooth and indulgent way of putting things.

(End of this chapter)