A member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has turned his passion for photography into a heartfelt mission, capturing family portraits for plateau herding households in southwest China while championing poverty alleviation.
At an altitude of over 3,000 meters in Sichuan Province's rugged plateaus, Fan Heqi has been transforming lives by helping families preserve precious moments through their very first family portrait.
More than just a photographer, Fan also serves as the deputy director of the cultural center of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and a member of the resident working team in Qiuji Langwa Village, fondly referred to by herders as "brother Fan."
Fan has shot over 600 family portraits for herding households, bringing personal warmth and cultural connection to one of China's most remote regions. These smiles reflect not only joy, but also symbolize how poverty alleviation and rural revitalization transform lives.
"In 2023, I volunteered as a village official in Qiuji Langwa. I wanted to use my camera to capture moments of happiness - to give each family a lasting memory, often their only family portrait. These smiles reflect not only joy, but also the real results of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Over the past five years, so much has changed for the better," Fan told China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Fan has built strong bonds with the villagers, identifying those in need and providing targeted support to make a real difference in their lives.
"Last Spring Festival, I visited a family to take their portrait. The father was seriously ill at the time. I wanted to leave them with a lasting image. When we carried out a village-wide support program in March, we identified them as a household in difficulty. By April, they were officially included in the monitoring list. Just from the subsistence allowance, the family receives around 3,000 yuan (about 418.75 U.S. dollars) a month. On top of that, they were granted 20,000 yuan (about 2791.7 U.S. dollars) and targeted industry support. Altogether, it helped ease much of the burden of the father's medical treatment," he said.
The villagers shared their heartfelt appreciation, highlighting that Fan not only helped address their pressing needs, but also left them with cherished memories that would last a lifetime.
"I had to borrow about 500,000 yuan (about 69,792 U.S. dollars) to treat my father's illness. Now, with support from the government and village officials, we're in a poverty relief program, and our life feels more secure. It was our first time taking a proper family photo, with several generations together. I was thrilled that Brother Fan helped us capture it," said Duojiluozhou, a resident.
Beyond photography, Fan has also helped enhance public facilities, securing 200,000 yuan (about 27,917 U.S. dollars) in funding to renovate the village activity center and the school library for local students.
"We upgraded the entire village activity center, and reorganized all the books to make them more accessible. Now, villagers and students can come here in their free time to read magazines, learn about animal husbandry, or even play Tibetan chess, which is a national-level intangible cultural heritage," Fan said.
Today, herding families are embracing new hopes. With new infrastructure and a high-speed rail station under construction, life on the plateau is changing for the better.
"Life is getting better for us herders. Now we're even building a high-speed rail station nearby. It'll make things more convenient and bring more tourists in the future," said Zhaxi, the village head.
From family portraits to pathways out of poverty, Fan is fulfilling his mission with sincerity and resolve. And across Ruoergai county, many more grassroots workers like him are delivering care and support to the most remote corners of the highlands.
CPC member captures family portraits to support poverty alleviation in Sichuan
