Persistence pays off with thorny fruit

A professional farming cooperative was founded, making the village the earliest and largest Rosa roxburghii Tratt planting base in Anshun.

In 2016, Daba village finished constructing a fruit wine factory with an annual output of 5,000 metric tons.

"Further processing is an effective way to increase the fruit's value," Chen said. "And an industry chain including planting and further processing may help develop the village faster."

In 2017, the village began to develop locust and hairy crab breeding industries, creating job opportunities for all its 1,564 residents.

"With my 2 hectares of cultivated land contracted to the cooperative, I receive a net income of 60,000 yuan per year," said villager Hu Xiaoqin. "In addition, I can earn 3,000 yuan per month growing trees."

With its good environment, the village is showing its advantages for tourism.

"After moving into the new villa in 2017, I started operating a country inn, which can bring me 20,000 yuan per year," said villager Wang Jiangping. "It feels good to earn money at home."

So far, 130 villas have been constructed with the help of bank loans.

Zhao Yandi contributed to this story.