County led from poverty by lowly critters that make silk

In a large cement-block structure with its floor consisting of rows of mulberry leaves crawling with baby silkworms, Yin Shouquan from the Kunming University of Science and Technology in Yunnan province considers this to be his office.

The fine silk threads produced by the worms, which are then processed into scarves, pajamas and underwear for some of the world's most luxurious brands, have not only made the 32-year-old electronics engineering major one of the highest paid among his university classmates, but also helped lift his hometown out of poverty.

Longchuan, meaning the place where elephants trumpet in the language of the Dai ethnic group, is situated in the western corner of Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar and is populated by the Han people, as well as other ethnic groups including the Dai and Jingpo.