Shandong district's specialized agriculture development leads to prosperity

Blueberries grown in Chayekou town. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chayekou town in Jinan's Laiwu district has leveraged its pristine natural ecology and reputation as a festival host to develop distinctive agriculture, increasing incomes for residents.

The town's most renowned specialty, cherries, which have been planted in the area for over 300 years, are now being grown across vast orchards, generating an annual output value of up to 200 million yuan ($27.61 million).

"Our greenhouse cherries are now ripe, and the outdoor cherries are expected to ripen by mid to late May. We welcome everyone to come and pick their own," said Zhu Zhenguang, head of a local farm.

In addition to the sweet cherries, in recent years, Chayekou town has been developing various agricultural products such as kiwi, blueberries, and more.

Building on these unique agricultural resources, the town has hosted events like the Chinese toon leaf picking festival, millet tasting events, and traditional opera cultural festivals, continuously exploring integrated agricultural, cultural, and tourism development models.

In 2025, Chayekou town is harnessing the power of e-commerce to sell local high-quality agricultural products through live streaming, increasing incomes and wealth for local residents. (Edited by Li Weiwei)