Shibadong, or Eighteen Caves, is the place where the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee first raised the important thought of precision poverty alleviation in Hunan Province. In five years, the author visited the village eight times, gathering typical examples on the ground to tell the story of how local villagers joined hands with officials to turn a poverty-stricken village locked behind mountains into a model of precision poverty alleviation through strategic planning that makes the best of local resources. 2013年11月3日，习近平总书记来到湖南湘西十八洞村，作出了"实事求是、因地制宜、分类指导、精准扶贫"的重要指示。自此，十八洞村成为精准扶贫方略的首倡地。
本书生动展现了十八洞村曲折感人的时代变迁。作者五年八次实地走访，从身边一个个鲜活的人物入手，全面记述了十八洞村党支部带领群众，积极响应党中央的号召，将大山深处积贫落后的边远村寨，逐步建设成因地制宜、合理规划、精准扶贫、精准脱贫的模范村的故事。