A sleepy village in southern Guangdong province has become a hub of attention as a local resident, Liang Wenfeng, emerges as a hero in China’s tech industry. Liang, the 40-year-old founder of artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek, has drawn hundreds of visitors to the village daily.
Villagers have set up stalls near Liang’s childhood home, selling souvenirs and drinks, including a special sugar cane juice. This drink is an homage to the ancient title given to top scorers of the imperial examination, a nod to Liang’s achievement through intellectual excellence.
DeepSeek recently made headlines with its powerful reasoning model, shocking Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Liang has become one of China’s most influential figures, comparable to the nation’s nuclear and rocket scientists from the 1950s and 1960s. Globally, Liang is viewed as a formidable technology entrepreneur with the potential to reshape the US-China rivalry.
Liang was born in 1985, a time when China was still emerging from a planned economy with a GDP per capita of $300 and limited financial services. His hometown, Mililing, remains a traditional rural community.
During the Lunar New Year, Liang returned to the village accompanied by armed police officers, highlighting his critical importance to the country. The village has become a popular destination, with locals and visitors alike showing interest in Liang’s achievements.
