Huaxi Village (simplified Chinese: 华西村; traditional Chinese: 華西村; pinyin: Huāxī Cūn), located east of the city of Jiangyin, in Jiangsu province, claims to be the richest village in China[1]. Wu Renbao (simplified Chinese: 吴仁宝; traditional Chinese: 吳仁寶; pinyin: Wú Rénbǎo), the former secretary of Huaxi Village Communist Party Committee, developed a plan to turn what used to be a poor rural locality into a modern rich community. Huaxi calls itself a model socialist village.
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Huaxi Village is known as the "No.1 village under the sky". It was founded in 1961.[2] All the inhabitants have a wealth of at least one hundred thousand Euros or more, according to the local authorities. This is a substantial amount by Chinese standards. The village has a multi-sector industry company that is listed on the stock exchange, has bought airplanes and plans to buy ships. The villagers are shareholders and are paid one fifth of the company's annual profits. In 2011 the company's turnover is expected to grow by about 6.5 billion Euros.
In addition to two thousand villagers, there also live in the area about 20 000 migrant workers and 30 000 nearby villagers. "My father was wealthy. Now I want that the villagers will also be that and healthy and happy," says the village chief, Wu Xiéen. His father, a former village chief, Wu Renbao once invested money in raw materials such as aluminum.[3]
A new landmark skyscraper in Huaxi Village[4], the 328-meter Longxi International Hotel was opened when the village celebrated its 50th anniversary.[5] [6]