Village turns peaches into prosperity

In the orchards of Sanxing, peach trees are laden with fruit — a thriving scene reflecting the village's remarkable transformation. As the Communist Party of China marks its 105th anniversary this year, this farming community in Zhejiang province stands as a vivid showcase of rural vitalization.

It all began over two decades ago, when Sanxing started large-scale peach cultivation. Xu Lijun, the village's Party secretary, looks back on the journey with pride.

"Under the Party's guidance and with central government support, we have followed Zhejiang province's rural development vision and achieved truly coordinated growth," he said.

The village owes much of its success to bus route 101. Launched in 2003 as one of Zhejiang's earliest direct city-countryside transit lines, it improved access to urban markets for the village's peaches. Xu said that farmers could now sell directly to urban customers and fetch higher prices.

Apart from infrastructure, effective governance has also been crucial. "We start by listening to people's needs through our grid management system," Xu said. As a grassroots governance approach based on small units in communities, the system helps to ensure that no household is left behind.

For Xu, economic growth and cultural well-being go hand in hand. "Industry powers our economy, while culture and the community spirit fuel our happiness," he said.

Last year, Sanxing's collective income grew 23.63 percent, lifting the per capita disposable income to 62,000 yuan ($9,163). The peach industry now serves as the cornerstone of the village's economy, contributing to a total industrial output exceeding 150 million yuan.

Beyond the numbers, the village has modernized its agricultural practices while preserving traditional cultivation methods. According to Xu, it has introduced about 30 high-quality peach varieties and partnered with the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences to promote advanced technologies.

Through Party member entrepreneurship support workshops and technical mentorship programs, the village has achieved unified production standards, branding and quality control, with the output now exceeding 300,000 yuan per hectare.

One highlight is the smart peach garden. "It can save about half the manual labor through automated drip irrigation, fertilization and drone spraying," said Ying Huaxing, an agronomist in the village. "Temperature and humidity are digitally controlled. Growing peaches no longer depends entirely on weather conditions, and both the yield and quality have improved significantly."

Ying has witnessed firsthand Sanxing's transformation. "I started as a temporary worker and now manage 2.33 hectares of peach orchards, while also running a technical service shop," he said.

Ying added that about 50 percent of his operations are now done using digital technology. "Previously, fertilization was based on guesswork. We can now precisely control the application of water and fertilizer, which improves yields by 20 to 30 percent."

Sanxing has developed a model combining the sweet economy with the training economy and cultural tourism. The village's 13 common prosperity workshops have provided employment for 560 residents, boosting the annual income of 23 struggling families by about 10,000 yuan each.

In 2025, the village hosted over 13,000 grassroots officials from 21 provinces for training programs, generating more than 2.5 million yuan in collective income.

Meanwhile, tourism has also taken off, with over 600,000 visitors annually contributing more than 150 million yuan in revenue.

Digital commerce has become another growth engine. "Elderly farmers struggling to market their produce can sell directly to our company, or rely on tech-savvy young relatives," Xu said. "The younger generation livestreams and posts on social media."

The village has made this easier with a free livestreaming room, helping to bridge online and offline retail. It ships 420,000 packages annually, generating 30 million yuan in online sales, and has an increasingly loyal customer base.

"Prosperity must enrich both pockets and minds," Xu said. The community now hosts over 100 annual cultural and sporting events, including village basketball tournaments and karaoke competitions.

Despite these achievements, an aging workforce remains a particular challenge. "Most agricultural workers are elderly, while younger people gravitate toward enterprises or entrepreneurship," Xu said. "We're facilitating land transfers and developing agricultural parks in order to attract new farmers, while creating diverse employment opportunities."

This effort to serve the people's needs reflects the Party's core mission — wholehearted dedication to the people, he noted.

"Residents must feel our commitment and warmth, strengthening their confidence in our shared future," Xu said. "Ultimately, ensuring genuine happiness and satisfaction among our people — that's our true measure of success."

zhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn