In 1995, Hou was among the first winners of the "Top 10 Grassroots Legal Service Workers of China" title conferred by the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China and 12 new agencies in Beijing. In January 1996, he was promoted to a consultant (at a county assistant level) by the Wuwei prefectural Party committee and administrative office, an exceptional promotion.

In July 1997, Hou was awarded the title of "Class I Hero Exemplar of the Judicial Administrative System". In August of the same year, he was honored with the title of "Exemplary Civil Servant" by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China.

Gansu provincial Party committee launched a campaign to learn from Hou across the province. In 1998, he was conferred the title of the "Best Civil Servant in Gansu" by Gansu Provincial Department of Personnel and was elected as a deputy to the 9th National People's Congress in the same year.

Inspired by his outstanding deeds, the China Television Production Center of CCTV filmed six-episode TV series Mr Hou; Lanzhou Film Studio shot For a Peaceful Life; the Audio-visual Education Center under the Organizational Department of Gansu provincial Party committee made a documentary titled The Man Praised in Folk Songs; the Television Production Center of Gansu TV Station filmed two feature programs including the Rural Judicial Assistant; and Wuwei Opera Ensemble rehearsed the modern drama titled Hou Dianlu.