A literal inspiration

Book lover's vlog sheds light on notable works about the nation's historical figures for a new generation, Cao Chen reports in Shanghai.

Motives for traveling differ, maybe it's for splendid scenery, or perhaps for relaxation. For Wang Qiaochu, a postgraduate majoring in journalism from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, her 15-day trip to Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan province in July was linked to a book.

The book named Jiang Cun Jing Ji, meaning "economy in Jiangcun", a work of the late Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong published in 1938, depicts farming, consumption and trade in an underdeveloped village in Jiangsu province's Wujiang county. It is Fei's doctoral thesis based on field research during his study at the University of London in the United Kingdom.

"It's composed during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and Fei, as an educated man, was determined to reveal the challenges and changes of villages in China and propose solutions through his research," Wang says.