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Snacks, ecotourism put Fujian village on track to prosperity

Updated: Apr 28, 2022 chinadaily.com.cn Print
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A panoramic view of Yubang village. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Renowned as "the first village of Shaxian Snacks", Yubang village in Shaxian county, Fujian province has achieved financial stability by developing a local snacks industry and promoting ecotourism.

Yubang village, which is enclosed by mountains, used to be a poor village during the early 1990s due to a lack of land and inconvenient transportation.

The then-Party Secretary, Yu Guangqing, led the people out of the village to open bars where they could sell their traditional snacks at low prices. Their business grew quickly as they worked long hours and relied on razor-thin profit margins.

"In the past, we made a living by selling Shaxian snacks. Now snacks not only make everyone rich, but also will be a key for making our village prosperous," Yu said.

Tourists eat Shaxian snacks in a snacks street in Yubang village. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A group of young villagers and experienced snack bar owners started to open Shaxian Snacks bars in Yubang village after achieving success outside the village. In order to strengthen the competitiveness of "the first village of Shaxian Snacks", they have regulated the management mode, explored new snacks, and improved the taste as well as the dinning environment.

In 2021, the per capita income of villagers in Yubang village was 28,320 yuan ($4,355.61), a year-on-year increase of 20 percent.

While gaining profits from the characteristic snacks industry, Yubang village boasts a forest coverage rate of 74.52 percent, still prioritizes ecological protection and gives full play to its ecological advantages to develop rural ecotourism.

A river in Yubang Village. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To solve the water pollution and farmland abandonment problems that were left behind in the 1900s, the village has made strong efforts to improve its water environment by repairing revetments and renovating river landscapes, as well as enhance land circulation by developing characteristic agriculture such as flower fields, fruits picking, and agricultural experiences.

The sea of snapdragons adds a splash of color to Yubang village. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The village planted about 20 mu (1.33 hectares) of snapdragons in November last year. The colorful flower is now in full bloom, making itself an eye-catching site for tourists.

In 2021, Yubang village received more than 200,000 tourists, and the village revenue reached 317,000 yuan, almost double that from the previous year.

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