Gourd industry empowers rural vitalization in Shandong's Guanxian

[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Guanxian county in Liaocheng city, Shandong province, has prioritized the gourd industry as a key driver for rural vitalization and cultural tourism integration.

By innovating gourd planting, processing, and sales, the county has created a sustainable gourd industry covering cultivation, cultural processing, and ecological tourism, thereby boosting the local gourd industry and rural industrial development.

Building on the gourd industry, the county has trained residents in gourd crafting techniques, teaching pyrography and painting to those with painting skills, fostering a group of skilled artisans.

In Chinese, "gourd" is pronounced as "hulu", symbolizing prosperity, a vital aspect of a better life. Gourd pyrography and painting often feature blessings, prosperity, longevity, and happiness, reflecting hopes for family well-being and successful careers.

Artists also depict characters from Chinese classics like Water Margin and Journey to the West, along with adorable animals like giant pandas, making these creations popular domestically and internationally.

A planting model integrating bases, farmers, culture, tourism, and sales has been established, extending the gourd industry chain, increasing gourd value, and driving rural vitalization. (Edited by Xie Zhenzhen)