“Lao Ma,” a nobody but somebody who serves the grassroots heart and soul-Xinhua

CHONGQING, June 26 (Xinhua) — In Guanyinqiao Subdistrict of southwest China’s Chongqing, residents here share a common answer when asked whom they could turn to for help, and the answer is “Go to Lao Ma”. 

Ma Shanxiang, who is fondly called by the name of “Lao Ma” by local people, had spent more than three decades resolving disputes for the masses and serving local communities. Formerly an official with the Guanyinqiao Subdistrict office, Ma was rehired after retirement to continue his work as head of the “Lao Ma Studio”, a grassroots dispute mediation organization. 

Over the years, Ma has received more than 20,000 visits from residents and mediated over 2,500 disputes, ranging from neighborhood quarrels to complex labor and public incidents. 

For Ma, conflict resolution is not merely about applying legal provisions, but about striking a balance between the rule of law and human compassion. 

His office is filled with notebooks of more than 280 volumes containing contents in over nine million Chinese characters. Drawing on decades of grassroots experience, Ma has developed his unique working method, a grassroots governance approach that could provide valuable experience for community-level social governance and public outreach. 

Believing that one person alone cannot solve all problems, Ma has devoted himself to mentoring younger mediators. Under his guidance, more than 3,000 mediator studios have been established across local communities, government agencies and police stations, while over 78,000 grassroots mediators have been trained in Chongqing. 

Today, “Lao Ma” himself has become a symbol of a warm and down-to-earth Chongqing city. Approaching the age of 70, Ma still works on the frontline of community mediation, passing on his experience to younger generations. 

Through patience, empathy and dedication, Ma and many mediators like him continue to bring harmony to neighborhoods and contribute to grassroots governance in Chongqing.