Because of its affiliation with the prosperous Chinese artificial intelligence business DeepSeek, a little rural town in southern China has become a bustling tourist destination. The village is famous because Liang Wenfeng, the founder of DeepSeek, was born there. Liang’s modest upbringing in Milling village has inspired residents and drawn tourists from far and wide. According to the Southern Countryside Newspaper, the village has a new look thanks to modifications made by local officials as a result of its increased popularity.
Mr. Wenfeng, 40, hails from a family of educators, according to the South China Morning Post. Both of his parents teach at the local elementary school in Milling village, which is situated in Wuchuan, a tiny city in the Guangdong province’s Zhanjiang prefecture.
Following his elementary schooling in the hamlet, Mr. Wenfeng enrolled in Wuchuan No. 1 Middle School, a well-known establishment in the area. After achieving remarkable results in the fiercely demanding Gaokao University entrance exam, he was accepted to the esteemed Zhejiang University in 2002 as a result of his academic ability.
When his business, DeepSeek, debuted its state-of-the-art AI product in late January, competing with well-known American rivals, his incredible journey garnered international attention. Consequently, a large number of people who were impressed by Liang’s accomplishments came to see his modest beginnings in Milling Village.
According to Liang Wenfen, the village committee’s representative, Milling Village, which has a population of over 700, is a close-knit community where older members labor in agriculture and younger generations usually work in local shoe factories.
The village has changed dramatically as a result of Mr. Wenfeng. The community had no industrial development before then, and its only source of income was the 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) annual rent for fish ponds.
Since then, the town has grown in popularity as a travel destination, drawing groups of people such as families and business workers. An incredible 10,000 guests visited the area every day during the Spring Festival holiday.
The village’s infrastructure was initially unable to meet the demand despite the surge of tourists. Due to visitor complaints about the unsatisfactory conditions, a renovation project was started in the middle of February. The community has greatly improved as a result of the repairs, even if the source of funds is still unknown.
Roads have been enlarged, sewage systems installed, trees planted, decaying structures removed, and the exterior walls of 29 homes renovated. But despite the excitement, Liang Wenfeng’s grandfather has had to spend the majority of the day with his front door closed out of concern for being harassed by the steady flow of tourists that come to his four-story family home.
According to a local, “some tourists took away a pile of earth, some stones, or fragments of leaves.”
The locals have thanked Mr. Wenfeng from the bottom of their hearts, attributing life-changing changes to him. The residents have also set up a foundation to assist high-achieving students, motivated by his extraordinary achievement.
Leaders News Blog 