Abstract: The implementation of agricultural production responsibility system is the most important economic system reform in rural China after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978, which promoted the liberation and development of productive forces. Wuwei County is located in the Jianghuai area, with a large population and yet inadequate land. During the period of agricultural collectivization, its agricultural development stagnated, so Wuwei County was in urgent need of reform. Wanli went to Wuwei many times to give guidance when he was in charge of Anhui, making Wuwei a pioneer in agricultural production responsibility system reform. Through the investigation and analysis of the evolution process of agricultural production responsibility system in Wuwei County, the paper discusses the attitudes of and measures by the central, provincial and local governments to the responsibility system reform at that time, in order to reveal the complexity and twists of the reform of agricultural production responsibility system in Wuwei County.

Key words: agricultural production responsibility system, Wuwei County, rural reform, contract production to households