Business buzzing in mountains as country life draws sweet-toothed

YINCHUAN－On a breezy night, 69-year-old Xia Ningcheng was playing saxophone for his friends, while they were barbecuing food near an apiary in the Liupan Mountains, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

"I had never been to a bee-themed 'agritainment' before. I'm told that the honey produced here is quite special. I'd like to buy some for my family," Xia said, as he stopped playing for a sip of honey tea.

The enchanting atmosphere prompted Xia to plan a family trip. "The city is ubiquitous with the honking of car horns, so the chirping birds here made me relax. I think my family would love to visit this place."

Wang Dingxiang, 47, owner of a homestay and a beekeeper, lives in Dongshanpo village of Jingyuan county in Ningxia's Guyuan city, which is located in the Liupan Mountains.

The place is home to more than 530 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs, and it boasts many high-quality natural apiaries. Locally produced honey has always been popular.

Wang used to help his grandfather extract honey and clean up honeycombs when he was a child. He later went to the city to explore prospects but returned to his hometown in 2016 to become a beekeeper after a failed attempt at entrepreneurship.

"The local honey is made from various kinds of wildflowers and medicinal herbs. Therefore it is nutritious, rich in flavor and popular among consumers," said Yan Xueqin, director of the Chinese Bee Industry Development Service Center in Jingyuan.

The Liupan Mountains is deemed a summer resort due to its pleasant climate and landscape, which is attracting more tourists every year. Wang saw an opportunity and wanted to take an advantage of the booming tourism.

"Tourists usually buy some honey when they leave. More tourists mean more sales," Wang said. He admitted that the burgeoning tourism here was one of the main reasons for him to come back.

Wang restored old houses, redesigned his big yard and planted peonies－turning it into a recreational and hospitality area. He also built 360 honeycombs and has raised more than 300 chickens. His guests can barbecue food, drink honey tea and sing karaoke.

Since last April, Wang has been livestreaming, which has so far attracted more than 5,400 regular viewers from across China. During those sessions, he demonstrates how to raise bees and make honey and shows glimpses of the unique local landscape in different seasons.

"I livestream year-round. It is important to build connections with viewers. Orders are generated from their trust," Wang said.

He received approximately 400 guests last year, most of whom were regular visitors. His bees yield 2,000 kilograms of honey every year. Last year, his gross income reached 300,000 yuan ($46,300).

"Tourists feel refreshed and sometimes stay for days. They take photos, sing karaoke and savor special farm-based delicacies,"Wang said.

The booming beekeeping and tourism is a sweet earner for local residents. Official data showed that there are more than 35,000 honeycombs of bees in Jingyuan, with an annual yield of 300,000 kg of honey and a revenue of more than 50 million yuan.

According to Wang Xin, deputy director of the local tourism department, the county welcomed over 1 million tourists last year, generating a total revenue of 790 million yuan.

Li Yong, head of a bee-related experimental station in the city of Guyuan in Ningxia, said bees can also help restore vegetation through pollination, to aid the development of industries like eco-agriculture and tourism.

Xinhua