Chinese public culture service progresses

During the past ten years, China's delivery of cultural services has accomplished a great leap-forward. A cultural service system has been set up, covering both cities and the countryside. Meanwhile, more cultural products and services have been delivered directly to the homes of Chinese people.

Ten years ago, the family of Shi Donglin was among a very few people who used a television in the village. There were few channels, and the signal was very unstable.

Shi Qianqian, Shi Donglin's daughter, said, "There was no signal during windy days. When I was a kid, I always asked my dad to hold the antenna so that I could watch cartoons. He had to keep holding it until it ended."

Ten years on, Shi's family has witnessed great changes. Their television is bigger, with clearer pictures and a stable signal. By 2011, more than 97 percent of Chinese people had access to television or radio.

Guo Wei in Tengchong Village of Yunnan Province has been working as a stone manufacturer for eight years. Eight years ago, all he did was just cut the stones, which was very low paying. But ever since the village was connected with the internet, his life has changed.

Guo Wei, villager of Tengchong village of Yunnan Province, said, "For example, this pattern, which I found on the internet, is suitable for stone. I will save it and carve the raw stone into a product with this pattern. It can sell for much higher."

Guo Wei is refering to the National Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project. It gathers science and technology, education, art and culture. Through this project, more and more Chinese people in rural areas have gained access to the outside world.

During the eleventh five-year program period, more than 25 thousand culture centres were set up in rural areas. In the center, local residents are able to read newspapers, magazines, hold performances and other activities.

Moreover, since 2003, a rural library project was carried out. Practical and efficient libraries have been built in almost every administrative village. Each is equipped with more than 1200 kinds of books, newspapers and digital products. Film projectors have also been brought to remote areas of the nation, to supply local people with more choices of cultural activities.