Fangezhuang is a village in Yanqi, a town in northeastern Beijing's Huairou District. Wu Shuming lives with her family in a courtyard in the village. Wu has always adhered to the virtue of showing filial piety to her parents, and she has passed that virtue to her children. What's more, the Wus have strived to prove to their fellow villagers that "harmony brings vigor and prosperity to a family."
Wu's family was named a "Most Beautiful Family" in 2025 by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the All-China Women's Federation.
Caring for Parents
Wu has six sisters, two older and four younger. Wu and her husband, Wei Zongjiang, took care of her parents, for 14 years, when her parents were both ill and bed-ridden.
"My sisters were either working or studying outside our village when my parents were ill. My husband gave me a lot of support when I was taking care of my parents, full-time, at home," Wu recalls.
Wei, a kindhearted man, does not talk much, but he does his best to complete the family's chores, Wu says. To make life easier and more comfortable for his parents-in-law, Wei learned how to cut hair. He also installed a television in the bedroom for his mother-in-law.
"Life was poor in the past. I can still remember my mother-in-law would add an egg every time she cooked noodles for me. She didn't even have an egg for herself. When my parents-in-law were healthy, they did their best to look after our family. So, it was absolutely my obligation to help my wife take care of them when they were ill," Wei says. He adds he will always be grateful — deep in his heart — for his parents-in-law.
Family Promise
The Wus have held to their tradition of hosting a family gala, to celebrate Chinese New Year, every year since Spring Festival 1979. "It was proposed by my father, Wu Zhenwang, in 1979. During the first family gala, he told us to be kind, diligent, show respect to the elderly and care for the young, and remain united to achieve progress. Those virtues have guided our growth in successive years," says Wu Shuming.
Wu Zhenwang was warmhearted, both as a father and a neighbor, and he was always ready to help the other villagers when they needed aid. When Wu Shuming was a young girl, she often watched her father help the neighbors resolve quarrels. "Father told me every member must help maintain the family's harmony. The harmony of our hometown must be protected by every household. At that time, I was too young to understand exactly the meaning of his words. But, now, I realize he was educating us how to live a harmonious life," Wu Shuming says.
After both of her parents passed away, Wu Shuming began shouldering the role of organizing her family's annual Spring Festival gala.
"Although many families prefer to go to a restaurant to have a family banquet, our family chooses to stay in our home and cook our Spring Festival banquet. It usually takes a few days to prepare for such a gathering — for more than 30 members of our big, extended family. But everyone is happy, and we call this a 'true reunion.' The Spring Festival gala reminds us that harmony brings vigor and prosperity to a family," Wu Shuming explains.
In addition to singing and dancing, the family members have added other forms of performance as entertainment during their family galas in recent years. Some have played musical instruments, such as the piano, violin or erhu (a traditional Chinese, two-stringed musical instrument played with a bow). Several members have been inspired by their family's gala performances, and they have opted to establish careers in the arts.
For example, Cui Matai, the son of Wu Shuming's eldest sister, Wu Shuqing, has become a professional painter. Wu Shumin, Wu Shuming's younger sister, is a vocal-music teacher. Wu Shujiang, Wu Shuming's youngest sister, is an amateur dancer. Wu Shuming says her generation of family members enjoy watching their offspring display their talent during the family gala.
Chorus of Wus
The Wus established a special venue in Fangezhuang in 2019. "We named the venue 'Seven Sisters Museum of Art.' The building was actually renovated based on the house owned by my younger sister, Wu Shufeng, and her husband," Wu Shuming explains.
In August 2025, Wu Shufeng, the fourth born of the seven sisters, and Wu Shumin, the sixth born, suggested their family form a chorus. They named it "Happy-age Chorus." The seven sisters hope to enjoy their lives after retirement.
Wu Shuming says the third generation of the family, the children of her and her sisters' generation, have learned to show filial piety. The children are grateful for their parents, who have done so much to support their big family.
Wu Shuming's son, Wei Xiaochen, works downtown. No matter how busy he is, he makes time to visit his parents during weekends and/or holidays. "The word xiao (孝) in my given name means filial piety. It is a Chinese character with an auspicious connotation. It also reminds me of an obligation I shoulder in my family," says Wei Xiaochen.
Wei Lan, Wu Shuming's daughter, is a primary school teacher. She tells her students that showing filial piety to the elderly should not be considered a "burden," but a source of "happiness," for a family. As Wei Lan's parents-in-law are physically weak, she has chosen to work in a school close to her in-laws' home. She wants to be able to take good care of them.
"The third generation of our family has been taught the importance of showing filial piety. They care about us. Zhang Xiyu, the daughter of my younger sister, Wu Shumin, has completed her postgraduate studies at Capital Medical University. Now, she is not only a professional doctor, she also helps members of our big family maintain good health," Wu Shuming says.
Promoting Good Tradition
Wu Shuming is well-known in her hometown for her great interest in singing traditional Chinese opera. Since 2002, she has led her fellow villagers, who like opera and/or performing folk instruments, in giving stage performances in neighboring areas. "I am a Party (CPC) member. I want to contribute to enriching the spiritual lives of other villagers," Wu Shuming says. The Wus have set a good example of living a harmonious life as a family in their hometown.
Residents in Fangezhuang form "neighbors' mutual-aid groups," which help look after elderly people who live alone. Many of the young villagers, who have relocated to other places to work or study, return to their hometown, on a regular basis, to visit the elderly members of their families.
Wu Shuming believes it is important for a family to pass its moral virtues from generation to generation. "I hope our offspring will never waste their time, and they will do something that will benefit the progress of our country," she says.
Photos from Interviewees
(Women of China English Monthly April 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
