“My seven years of rural life in northern Shaanxi Province gave me something mysterious and sacred,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a 1995 interview. He started working in the countryside at the age of 15, an experience which shaped his personality and helped him become the man he is today.

　　一段經歷往往會改變一個人的一生。出身于革命家庭的習近平，15歲的時候去陜北農村插隊，也正是那一段經歷給了他一種力量、一種勇氣和一種生活信念。

　　My seven-year rural life in northern Shaanxi Province gave me something mysterious and sacred.

　　在陜北插隊的七年，給我留下的東西幾乎帶有一種很神秘也很神圣的感覺。

　　Whenever I faced a challenge or a test or started a new job, I could somehow hear my fellow Shaanxi folks singing local songs on the farm.

　　每有一種挑戰、一種考驗，或者要去做一個新的工作的時候，我們腦海里翻騰的都是陜北高原上耕牛的父老兄弟的信天游。

　　I think in my life, there are two kinds of people who have helped me the most.

　　我覺得在我一生中，對我幫助最大的是兩種人。

　　The first were pioneers of revolutionary times, the others were my fellow Shaanxi villagers.

　　一種就是革命老前輩，一種就是我那陜北老鄉。

　　I came to know that fundamental power rests with people. I gained a better understanding of ordinary people and society. This was the most fundamental influence.

　　看到了人民群眾的力量，看到了人民群眾的根本，真正理解了老百姓、了解了社會，這個是最根本的。

　　My idea of seeking truth from facts was formed then, and it has influenced me until now.

　　很多實事求是的想法都是從那個時候生根發芽的。以至于到現在，每時每刻影響著我。