Two Sessions 2026: Yi woman forges independent path in rural China

For generations, traditional beliefs often held that women from China’s Yi minority do not run business. But in the mountains of southwest China, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, a quiet transformation is taking place. More young women from ethnic communities are choosing to shape their own futures. This is the story of Heiji Ajia, a Yi woman from Xide County, who returned home to raise her children and start a small business, showing how determination and hard work are opening new paths for rural women.