Black-bone birds bring in big bucks

In 2013, he set up an online store on e-commerce platform Taobao. For the first time, Xuefeng blackbone chickens were vacuum-packaged and sold to customers around the country. In 2018, Yang's Tmall flagship store was launched, and his chicken became a popular brand.

Since 2012, he has sold about 1 million Xuefeng black-bone chickens, with those sold through Taobao and Tmall accounting for 70 percent. His business has provided 50 jobs to villagers from poor families. Their average annual income increased by nearly 50,000 yuan each.

Yang also offers support and advice to villagers who are raising black-bone chickens and helps them sell their products.

He has gained praise from his fellow villagers and is affectionately called "Dr Yang".

"Our chickens used to be sold only within the county. Now, Dr Yang has an online store and has sold them all over the country," said Yang Xiyuan, an employee of the farm.

"I'm very happy that now, I don't need to be apart from my family and work outside as a migrant worker anymore."

Zhu Youfang and Liang Yuhan contributed to this story.