Gaomi: Villages thrive with diverse industries

As autumn brings a bounty of fruit, Gaomi, a county-level city in Weifang, Shandong, is enjoying a prosperous harvest. In Beizhangjiatun village, peaches are in high demand, and apples are also set for a successful season with larger fruit fetching higher prices.

The village is also flourishing with its new mugwort processing industry. Local women produce moxa sticks and mugwort pillows, boosting village income and creating local jobs. Village's Party secretary Zhang Chengyou notes that these efforts have diversified income sources and strengthened the local economy.

Mugwort products on display. [Photo by Wang Honglei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

In nearby Baimiaozi village, golden cicada farming has become highly profitable, with villager Li Xianhui earning an additional 160,000 yuan ($22,544) annually. In Dashawu village, villager Liu's 40 hectares of Eucommia trees support mixed farming and provide employment for locals.

Additionally, Songxingtun village's fresh grapes, Zhangjiazhuang village's potatoes, and Maojiawuzi village's millet are all thriving. Gaomi is advancing regional development through specialized farming and branding, steering its villages toward greater economic prosperity. (Edited by Lin Li)