Shandong's Caoxian county spurs rural vitalization

Caoxian county in East China's Shandong province has been boosting its village economies in the current year by especially tailoring the strategies for its industries to local conditions.

One example of this is in Zhengzhuang sub-street, where collaborative development between neighboring villages has proven particularly effective.

By pooling resources and focusing on greenhouse farming, over 200 hectares of land have been converted into productive use, with more than 200 greenhouses cultivating strawberries, kiwifruit, cherries, grapes and tomatoes.

Each village now earns over 200,000 yuan ($27,402) annually, establishing a strong foundation for stable growth.

Caoxian is also revitalizing its idle assets to unlock new opportunities. In Wanlou village, an old office was transformed into a modern cold storage facility with a 600,000-yuan investment.

The facility now stores over 7,000 boxes of vegetables, increasing the village's collective income by 50,000 yuan annually while creating jobs for the elderly and female residents.

Because of the facility, the annual output of the area is projected to be worth more than 20 million yuan, showing the potential for resource revitalization.

Farmers are busy harvesting vegetables in Caoxian county. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Renewable energy projects are further enhancing the economies of the county's villages.

A solar power park has added steady income streams, with plans for expanded production facilities to benefit more villages. Meanwhile, efforts to hire people and support local entrepreneurship are driving industry upgrades, ensuring their long-term vitality.

The solar power park in Yuanzhuang village, Caoxian county, is set to boost local energy production and incomes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

These days, with rising incomes, improved infrastructure and a better rural life, Caoxian's villages are flourishing.

Overall, the county is said to be committed to exploring innovative development paths for sustainable growth and rural vitalization. (Edited by Zhang Ying)