'City of the future' a reality after 9 years

For years, Xing Jie and her husband, Li Jinghe, ran a small hardware store in a rural area of Hebei province. When the couple learned their village was included in the blueprint for the Xiong'an New Area and that relocation was imminent, they had mixed feelings — leaving behind a secure, familiar life for an unknown future.

"We were reluctant to leave because we couldn't picture what the new area would be like," Xing recalled.

However, that uncertainty began to fade when the couple used their compensation from the relocation project to rent a 500-square-meter warehouse in neighboring Baigou, a major commercial and logistics hub. Pivoting from retail to wholesale, their business expanded in unexpected ways. "It has turned out much better than we ever expected," Xing said.

In 2021, the family moved into a bright, new apartment in Rongdong district. With the initial unease about relocating a distant memory, Xing said what reassures her most is the future unfolding there.

"The opportunities, especially for the younger generation, are far greater than what a small village store could ever offer," she said. "Life here simply feels right."

The family's experience is more than a personal story; it is living proof of a national vision fleshed out into reality.