Yu Xiaoyan, a journalist and a writer under the pseudonym of Xin Tong, is now a member of the Chinese Writers Association. She is a first runner-up of the 8th Bing Xin Literature Award and the author of several pieces of literature, including proses and folk culture series of Pingtan.

Born in SW China Sichuan province, she married her Pingtan husband and moved to his hometown more than 20 years ago. Over the years, she has traveled across the island countless times and now can even speak the local dialect fluently.

Yu pointed out that the highlight of her life brought by Pingtan is to write, record, and spread the unique island culture.

Pingtan has been designated as an international tourism island. As a long-time resident of a rising international tourism island, Yu has contributed to the cause and created a tourism column for the local paper, Pingtan Times. The column has won the Fujian Journalism Awards multiple times. In addition, Yu also volunteered her service to assist state broadcasters in promoting Pingtan to the world.

The ardent Yu also serves as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. She walked into communities and villages to promote the tourism culture of Pingtan. Her proposals and investigation reports on tourism development have received positive feedback.

“Pingtan Island is a diamond with multiple sides, each of which bears a unique shine. The aquamarine sea, the staggered stone settlements, the magical sea erosion landforms, the long and meandering coastline and ancient wooden boats, the polished and shiny cables, and the weaving fisherwomen wrapped in assorted headscarves…all contribute to the wonderful landscape and colors of Pingtan.

From Sichuan to Fujian, different cultures collide, stirring Yu's imagination and curiosity. She and her mother-in-law are like besties. She often toils in the fields and reaps harvest with her mother-in-law. They chat about slang allusions in the Pingtan dialect. Yu also animates the unsophisticated rural life of Pingtan featuring the multi-faceted mother-in-law. As a Chinese saying goes, when the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law get along, you will have a harmonious family. In 2017, the family was rated as a “Five-Good Family” by the Women’s Federation of Pingtan.

Yu’s efforts to help build Pingtan have been recognized by Pingtan. She has been honored as a top ten journalist, an excellent intellectual, an outstanding CPPCC member, a woman pace-setter, and a zealous advocate for conserving cultural and natural heritage in Pingtan.

There are numerous other new Pingtan residents like Yu Xiaoyan in the rapid development of Pingtan. 

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