Industrial transformation boosts rural vitalization in Xifeng

An aerial view of Li'an village in Xifeng county, Guiyang. [Photo/WeChat account of Xifeng county]

In recent years, Li'an village in Xifeng county has experienced vigorous development, all thanks to the village's efforts to adjust its rural industrial structure.

This transformation began in December 2019, when over 60,000 persimmon seedlings were brought into the village. Now, the high survival rate and abundant fruiting of these persimmon trees have turned into a thriving industry for Li'an village.

So far, the village has persimmon plantations that measure 1,171 mu (77.4 hectares), and when combined with the individual persimmon trees around the villagers' houses, the total persimmon plantation area exceeds 1,200 mu.

Calculated at a yield of 2,500 kilograms per mu, the persimmon volume will reach over 3,000 metric tons, bringing in an income of over 30 million yuan ($4.21 million). This makes the persimmon industry a substantial source of revenue for the village.

In addition to persimmons, Li'an village also has a 50-mu area for chrysanthemum cultivation. The estimated yield of over 25 metric tons of chrysanthemum is expected to generate an output value of 150,000 yuan.

Furthermore, the village is making great efforts to develop its rural tourism industry. The village's 33 homestays will bring an income of over 1.4 million yuan during summer, when a continuous stream of tourists comes to Li'an seeking relief from the summer heat.

In 2021, Li'an was selected as a key provincial-level rural tourism village in Guizhou, and was named a "Guizhou Provincial Forest Village" by the Guizhou Provincial Forestry Department.