During the scorching summer, as the summer social practice period approached, Henan University's National Unity Practice Group ventured deep into Xiqu District, Panzhihua City, for a special research initiative. From the Baoliu Courtyard in Lunan Community to Zhuangshang Village along the Jinsha River, group members witnessed firsthand the vivid practices of national unity at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

In Xiqu District, the warmth of ethnic groups co-creating a "pomegranate seed" mosaic, the dedication of grassroots ethnic affairs workers, and the vibrant inheritance of ethnic cultures together painted a contemporary picture of national unity. The group aimed to uncover the spiritual code behind these stories and experience the power of solidarity, devotion, and heritage.

Understanding Unity Through History and Culture

On the first day, the group visited Lunan Community in Qingxiangping Subdistrict. At the tree-lined Baoliu Courtyard theme square, a relief wall depicting the Third Front Construction era told tales of historical struggles. Inside the Liuxiang Academy, a prominent slogan read, "All ethnic groups should embrace each other tightly like pomegranate seeds."

"Every brick and tile in this square holds the code of national unity," explained Pang Xing, Secretary of the Lunan Community Party Committee and Director of the Neighborhood Committee, gesturing to a sculpture of Han and Yi villagers harvesting pomegranates together. "We've embedded the stories of Han and Yi people coexisting harmoniously into every landscape and daily life." In front of a stone carving inscribed with "Unity," team members felt the profound bond among ethnic groups.

The relief wall’s shared struggle scenes and the academy’s intermingling and coexisting laughter made the abstract concept of unity tangible. The group realized that national unity thrives in the everyday interactions of communities.

Inspired by Ordinary Heroes

The group then interviewed Lu Xueying, a national model for ethnic unity from Lunan Community. This elderly woman, who adopted four children of different ethnicities, exemplified unity through decades of action. Inspired by her, the community established the "Little Pomegranate Volunteer Team," with over 600 residents actively participating in "I Am a Pomegranate Seed" volunteer activities.

"Whether Han or Yi, we must respect and help each other, like pomegranate seeds tightly clustered," Lu said earnestly. Her efforts—assisting newly relocated ethnic families, caring for elderly orphans and widows—epitomized the community’s unity.

Group members documented Lu’s heartfelt stories and her home’s warm atmosphere, planning a documentary to showcase her legacy and Lunan Community’s achievements. The experience deepened their understanding of ethnic interdependence, with members vowing to spread the pomegranate seed spirit.

Witnessing Development Through Cultural Integration

On the second day, the group arrived at Zhuangshang Village, a national unity demonstration village in Geliping Town, located along the Jinsha River. A striking archway at the entrance, inscribed with "Unity Through Clustered Seeds," greeted them.

In the village’s cultural exhibition hall, guides shared moving stories: during the Jinsha River Rafting Festival, Han and Yi sailors collaborated on sheepskin rafts, their chants echoing across the valley; at the Dragon God Festival, ethnic groups gathered to pray for prosperity; and at the Washing Festival, girls’ laughter and wooden mallets rhythmically beat along the river, blending into songs of unity. "We’ve turned ethnic cultures into shared experiences for all to enjoy," the guide noted.

Over four decades, Zhuangshang Village transformed from poverty to prosperity: dirt roads became concrete highways, adobe houses evolved into homestays, and handicrafts reached national markets. "The village’s collective economy was once in debt, but now, through cultural tourism integration, annual income exceeds one million yuan," the guide said, recounting his three-day mountain journey to mediate a land dispute, which deeply touched the students.

As the group departed, children danced folk dances in the square, their Han braids and Yi silver collars glistening in the sun—a beautiful tableau of unity. The village’s story, they realized, would continue to evolve.

From Baoliu Courtyard’s philosophy to Lu Xueying’s practice and Zhuangshang Village’s transformation, the group witnessed the pomegranate seed spirit flourish in Xiqu District. It manifested in community sculptures, daily mutual aid, cultural inclusivity, and ordinary people’s resolve to build a better home.

As young people of the new era, the group members emphasized that national unity is not a historical footnote but a mission requiring generations of practice. Their experiences in Xiqu District, they said, would become precious assets for telling unity stories and spreading the pomegranate seed spirit. (Text/Photos by Tian Jinyan, Sun Jiajun, Chen Jinhui, Luo Beier)