"I hope that you will continue to work hard for a long time to protect the Great Wall, carry forward the Great Wall culture, tell the story of the Great Wall, and drive more people to understand the Great Wall, protect the Great Wall, and pass on the precious wealth left by our ancestors from generation to generation." In the reply, the General Book wrote.

In the 1980s, many sections of Shixiaguan Great Wall cracked or even severely damaged due to multiple factors such as historical environmental changes, natural erosion and weathering, and human production and life. Mei Jingtian, a villager in Shixia Village, was very sad to see such a scene.

"The Great Wall is unique, and it will be lost if not protected." Mei Jingtian began to patrol around the ancient Great Wall around Shixia Village, protecting damaged parts of the Wall, picking up garbage, and discouraging tourists from climbing the Wild Great Wall, which has lasted for more than 40 years.

"In the early years, there were not many tourists. Weeds grew savagely and shrubs broke through the ground." At that time, in addition to farming, Mei Jingtian's most common thing was to visit the ancient Great Wall, cut weeds, thorns and shrubs, at least 20 times a month, and damaged seven or eight pairs of shoes a year.

Mei Jingtian also clashed with six or seven young men for stopping private graffiti. "You can hardly find the Great Wall, but don't draw or carve when you come." Mei Jingtian stared at the young man holding his collar until the other party released his hand.

As he grew older, Mei Jingtian began to consider looking for a successor. He also felt that more people needed to participate in the protection of the Great Wall. On October 29, 2007, Mei Jingtian recruited villagers' volunteers at the village fire prevention meeting and established the Great Wall Protection Association of Shixia Village. Mei Jingtian said to everyone, "Anyone who wants to participate will sign up. It is purely voluntary." On the same day, 34 villagers registered at the meeting of 50 or 60 people. Mei Jingtian was very pleased.

Since then, more and more villagers have participated in it, and the Great Wall Protection Association of Shixia Village has been growing.

In 2019, in addition to volunteers who volunteered to protect the Great Wall, the village also had a "regular army". In that year, Yanqing District Cultural Relics Management Office recruited the Great Wall protectors. Influenced by his uncle Mei Jingtian, Liu Hongyan applied for the post at the first time. After written examination, interview and sports test, he finally became one of the first 6 Great Wall protectors in the village.

Since then, Liu Hongyan has followed his uncle's footsteps and walked this rugged mountain road five times a week, rain or shine.

Growing at the foot of the Great Wall, the villagers of Shixia Village have deep feelings for the Great Wall, and "protecting the Great Wall" has long been the consensus of the whole village.

They guarded the Great Wall and loved it. The Great Wall also gave gifts to Shixia Village.

In recent years, Shixia Village has deeply explored the cultural value of the Great Wall and integrated it into rural tourism. The villagers have eaten ecological food and embarked on the road of becoming rich.

Now, when you come to Shixia Village, you can hear the story of the Great Wall and Shixia Village told by the "Great Wall Explanation Team" composed of the old people who lived in Shixia Village; You can also experience the whole process of measuring city bricks, firing city bricks, building city wall buttresses, and feel the wisdom of the Great Wall builders; You can also join the "attack and defense" designed according to the war of Li Zicheng attacking Shixia Pass... The carefully designed tourism project has made the name of "Great Wall Culture" known, and also enhanced the sense of belonging and honor of villagers.

The culture of the Great Wall is like a source of flowing water, driving Shixia Village to become rich. In 2022, Shixia Village will officially remove the "hat" of a village with weak collective economy.

From a remote mountain village to a famous cultural village of the Great Wall, people here write wonderful stories at the foot of the Great Wall.

As the letter from the villagers of Shixia Village to the General Secretary said, "The Great Wall has given us a beautiful home, and we guard it carefully. The Great Wall has also given us a beautiful life, and we are full of happiness."

Prepared by Director Luo Hongbing and Wei Quhu

Supervised by Wang Jingdong

Chief Editor | Li Xuan

Edited by Meng Lizheng

Vision | Hao Fenglin

Checked by: Li Danlu, Yang Liying, Zhuo Louhao

Produced by CCTV