Beijing beekeeping makes life sweeter for farmers

Farmers in Beijing's Miyun district are becoming rich by developing businesses such as beekeeping and folk cultural tours.

Tian Shuge, a local bee farmer in Longtangou village in Miyun, who has been in the bee raising industry for more than 30 years, said she has been making more money after joining the cooperation group in the village.

To better help bee farmers in the district, the local government has provided financial aid to support about 30 projects involving the bee business with an investment of about 100 million yuan ($14 million) to make commercial bee keeping standardized and industrialized.

"My annual income has been increasing in recent years and it is more than 300,000 yuan at present," Tian said with a big smile on her face.

Miyun has the largest beekeeping area in Beijing, with 2,072 bee farmers tending 115,000 colonies that account for 44 percent of the city's total, according to data from the local government.

To better the good local environment with clean water and fresh air, the district government upgraded more than 300 houses and encouraged villagers to develop folk tourism in recent years.