WUJIANG – November 01, 2026 -- Wujiang District inaugurated the Fei Xiaotong Social Survey Center on November 1, marking the 90th anniversary of the sociologist's Jiangcun field study in Kaixiangong Village, Qidu Town, Jiangsu Province.
Wujiang and Chinese universities co-organize anniversary event under a modernization theme
The event, themed "Understanding China's Modernization Through Jiangcun," was organized by Wujiang District in partnership with several Chinese universities. The new center will extend Fei's fieldwork method of understanding people's lives from their own perspective through in-depth research.
District Party chief Sun Daoxun commits to university partnerships and joint research sites
Sun Daoxun, secretary of the CPC Wujiang District Committee, said the district will strengthen partnerships with universities and jointly develop sociological research sites. Wujiang will also work to revitalize rural communities, strengthen local governance and develop a cultural economy.
The initiative draws on Wujiang's experience in urban-rural integration.
Sociological Association president Zhang Yi urges scholars to start from firsthand rural investigation
Zhang Yi, president of the Chinese Sociological Association, told scholars to ground their knowledge in firsthand investigation, beginning with life in rural communities. He said this is the way to understand the dimensions and foundations of China's modernization.
Six scholars present Jiangcun-based research on modernization
Six scholars delivered presentations, including Li Peilin, a member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. One presentation was titled "From the Jiangcun Field Study to Rural Revitalization: Carrying Forward the Intellectual Legacy of Grounding Knowledge in Firsthand Investigation and Improving People's Livelihoods."
A ceremony honoring Fei's legacy brought participants together to support further research and practical work in rural communities.