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Wali residents left their hometown to make room for Olympic venues, naturally they born a deeper Olympic complex than others, Yang said.

"What I want to do is to provide visitors a 'textbook' about Chinese rural culture," added Yang, "Wherever we move, the history of Wali can't be interrupted. I'm obliged to build the museum because I love my hometown and I know I am doing a right thing."

During his preparations to build the museum, Yang gained solid supports from many people, including his fellow villagers and two-time Olympic shooting champion Yang Ling.

"Yang is a determined and far-sighted man. Whatever difficulties he met, he always works out ways to overcome them," said Wang Shihou, a former Wali village official. "I donated my old hoe to him and most of us villagers supported his idea by offering their used rural stuffs and some old pictures."

"I was moved and inspired by the idea of Yang Ling, two-time Olympic shooting champion who said, ‘Why not duplicate gold medals of all Chinese Olympic champions and display them in a group?' It's a great idea," Yang Delu said.

His plan to build museum was also applauded by Chen Jiang, secretary general of National Exhibition Center Association. He helped Yang to work out an ichnography and impression drawing of the museum and offer valuable suggestions, according to Yang.

"I planned to invest another 5 million yuan (US$704,225) to build a museum with an area of 400 mu of land (266,800 square meters) and expand my exhibition room into 10,000 square meters," Yang explained, outlining his idea., "of course, I hope to obtain financial and policy supports."

Not only will the museum include the Memorial Hall of Wali, but it will also comprise another 20 categories, such as folk craft workshops and a village performance stage, where visitors could appreciate live performance, such as lion dance, Beijing opera. "I want to preserve the original style and features of Wali village in historical and cultural senses," Yang said.

Yang admitted his own money and efforts to fund the project are limited, but he didn't persuade his fellow villagers to invest in his museum. "After all, it is risky and I don't want to impose financial risks on them," Yang explained.

"If I could get help from the government I think the museum would demonstrate Wali rural culture and history with a more comprehensive perspective," said Yang.

The Xiangjulou Restaurant, which features with authentic farmer family food, does not only serve as a part of rural dining culture example for the museum, but now also a fund source to it.

The museum is expected to open in June, Yang said.

"The children of Wali shouldn't forget the history of their hometown," said Yang, "I hope the world will remember the 2008 Beijing Games and the people who contributed their hometown for the Olympics."

(Chinadaily.com.cn by Yang Qi, June 4, 2008)

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