TV series on shantytown renewal wins national recognition

A TV series named An Ju (meaning housing), based on the events of shantytown renewal in Beiliang, Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, was selected as one of the winners of the Flying Apsaras Awards, a biennial awards ceremony honoring outstanding television productions, on April 3, according to Baotou Daily.

Once the largest shantytown area in China, Beiliang initiated the shantytown renovation project in 2013 and completed the project with great success. The floor area per capita for Beiliang residents has doubled and the district now boasts brand new activity centers, clinics and expanded primary schools.

The program tells the stories taking place during the Beiliang shanty house clearance project, which is one of the key livelihood projects of Baotou city. It depicts humanity, unity and close ties between residents.

Much emphasis was put on the filming of An Ju, as it is the first TV series about shanty house clearance in China. Different from many other TV series, the story mainly focuses on the lives of the poor.

The TV series made its debt on CCTV1 on Sept 20, 2016.

Ren Fumin (second from right), producer of the TV series An Ju, receives an award at the Flying Apsaras Awards in Ningbo, East China’s Zhejiang province, April 3. [Photo/Baotou Daily]