In the village of Wangzhuang in Henan province, a distinctive social management system is in place that publicly scores residents based on their conduct and contributions to the community. A laminated QR code posted beside each home allows anyone with a smartphone to view a household’s social credit score and summary of behavior relative to their neighbors.

Unlike the widespread belief of a nationwide Chinese social credit system tracking citizens’ every move, Wangzhuang’s initiative represents a localized effort rather than a centralized algorithm. This village-level program was launched in 2021 after its former Communist Party secretary noted similar uses of QR technology in wealthier eastern provinces. It aims to address persistent issues such as littering, public disorder, and costly social ceremonies that have not been fully resolved by higher government authorities.

Starting from a baseline of 100 points, households can increase their scores through activities like cleaning roads, mediating disputes, aiding elderly neighbors, or participating in village events. Additional points are awarded for sending children to university or joining the military, as well as for having a second child, reflecting a national policy to counteract China’s declining birth rates. Each household’s behavior is evaluated monthly by a Moral Evaluation Committee, which may publicly name and shame those who repeatedly violate rules. Appeals against such judgments are possible but reportedly not always successful.

However, the system scores households collectively rather than considering individual nuances. Wang Wancai, a deputy director of one of the village committees, recounted an instance when a family’s points were reset to zero after a member burned agricultural waste on a dry day, violating fire safety rules. While participation in the program is officially voluntary, all families are scored, and few opt out due to the social recognition the scores confer.

The incentives offered are modest and primarily food-based, including rice and cooking oil donated by local authorities and businesses. Vendors like Yuan Zeyan, who runs a small village supermarket, are entitled to discounts on utilities based on the collective points of the households they serve. Mr. Yuan credits the system with improving previously unruly behavior but acknowledges that rising incomes likely contribute as much to changes in conduct.

Wangzhuang illustrates a broader trend in rural China where local governments adopt low-tech, community-focused social credit schemes to manage civility amid demographic decline and limited policing resources. Many villages face challenges caused by the migration of younger residents to urban areas, leaving behind older populations with less capacity for enforcement or confrontation.

Longtime resident Li Zhongsiu and his wife, Song Yuqui, expressed limited interest in their own scores but appreciated the system’s encouragement of good deeds. “When you go to do some charity, you do not aim for points,” Mr. Li said, “but it’s still good to have this system.” Overall, Wangzhuang’s social credit experiment reflects a grassroots approach to maintaining order and promoting social harmony in contemporary rural China.