Young entrepreneurs propel rural vitalization

As China's rural vitalization campaign deepens, young people, armed with new ideas and technologies, are choosing to start businesses in the countryside.

As they pursue their dreams in the country's vast rural areas, they are playing an important role in promoting modern agriculture and in bringing new vitality to rural economic development.

Tech-powered tea

At the Xiqiu Dapingzhou Ecological Tea Plantation, trees like osmanthus, ginkgo and yew are being planted between the rows of tea plants.

Fang Zhou, 32, is the owner of the plantation, which is located in Wuyishan, Fujian province.

After obtaining a master's degree in big data analysis in the United Kingdom, Fang returned to his hometown in 2016, and has been working on the family plantation ever since.

Part of a new generation of tea growers, Fang is committed to combining the latest techniques with planting, such as intercropping green manure crops and introducing microorganisms to control pests.

"Intercropping green manure like rapeseed and soybeans with tea plants can supplement soil fertility and prevent plants from being attacked by insects," he said.

Through big data analysis and modeling, Fang and his team developed an intelligent tea-picking machine with a leaf-picking quality rate of over 90 percent.

"The intelligent machine helps reduce labor pressure during the busy harvest season and improves the tea quality," he said.

"I want to combine my knowledge with the experience of my predecessors to help transform traditional agriculture," Fang said. "As China's rural vitalization efforts strengthen, its tea mountains will be the place for the new generation of tea farmers in Wuyishan to seek their dreams."

Forward-thinking

Visitors walking into the Zhuziyao Porcelain Cultural and Creative Studio are often impressed by the rows of porcelain displayed on its long wooden table.

Liu Yefeng, 27, is one of the founders of the studio, which is located in Wufu township in Wuyishan. After graduating from Fujian Jiangxia University in 2018, he moved to Wufu to work for the local government.

Having an interest in porcelain, he founded the studio together with two friends. "For me, this is a brand-new beginning, and my dream has set sail here," he said.

As the home of ancient Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi (1130-1200), tourism to Wufu has boomed in recent years, and it welcomes approximately 200,000 visitors every year.

"Many come to the studio to learn how to make porcelain. It is often booked up on weekends during the holiday season," Liu said.

The studio is committed to integrating traditional cultural elements into product design and Liu has recently been busy designing a new product inspired by longyuxi, a popular local folk opera.

"We hope to carry Wufu culture forward through our products," Liu said.

"Rural development requires the input of the younger generations, and also provides youth with a broad stage upon which to chase their dreams and make them happen," he added.

E-commerce enriched

"Hello everyone and welcome to my livestream room," Xia Meixiong says as he looks into the camera on his smartphone.

As a livestream host, the 33-year-old runs a channel on the short video platform Douyin, helping villagers sell farm specialties online and posting clips of the scenery around Fujian's Xiadang township in Ningde city.

Xia graduated from the Fujian Polytechnic School in 2007 and previously worked in the construction industry. He moved to Xiadang to start a business in 2020 after seeing the boom in its development when the township shook off poverty in 2018.

"In two years, we already have about 70,000 followers on our two Douyin accounts. Last year, our livestream sales amounted to 1.7 million yuan ($246,000)," Xia said.

He attributes his success to preferential entrepreneurship policies in the township. "Xiadang has not only waived the rent and utility bills for the livestream room premises this year, but it is also giving team members a monthly living allowance," he said.

"Devoting oneself to rural life is by no means a temporary passion, but a long-term exploration and commitment. I hope more young people will come to Xiadang to join the mission of rural vitalization," Xia said.

Xinhua