Historic heartland cultivates greener future

NANCHANG — Deep in the forested mountains of Pulong village in Jinggangshan, East China's Jiangxi province, Li Yunyan tends more than 90 beehives. What began as a modest sideline has grown into a reliable livelihood.

The 46-year-old, who has limited mobility, has relied on beekeeping for years. But with only a few dozen hives and little access to markets, expanding the business once seemed out of reach.

"In the past, I had only 30 to 40 beehives and had to carry honey out for sale," Li says. "The mountain roads were difficult, and even high-quality honey could not always fetch a good price."

That changed when local Party organizations helped connect villagers directly with businesses. Beekeepers received technical training, expanded their colonies and gained access to stable procurement channels.

Now, enterprises collect Li's honey directly from his doorstep, eliminating the burden of transporting it. For residents unable to undertake physically demanding work, beekeeping and other eco-friendly industries have become dependable sources of income.

Li's story reflects a broader transformation in Jinggangshan, long celebrated as the cradle of the Chinese revolution and now emerging as a model of green development.

Among old revolutionary bases across the country, Jinggangshan carries special historical significance. In 1927, Chairman Mao Zedong led a fledgling group of Chinese revolutionaries deep into the mountains around Jinggangshan, where they established the first rural revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China.

Ninety years later, Jinggangshan reached another milestone: in 2017, it became the first region in China to be removed from the national list of impoverished counties — three years before the country achieved its nationwide poverty alleviation goal in 2020.

Transformation has continued at the village level as rural vitalization is pushed forward under the leadership of the CPC, which marked its 105th founding anniversary with a gathering on July 1.

The strategy has focused on objectives such as ensuring rural areas are equipped with modern living conditions and narrowing the urban-rural divide.

Shenshan village offers a vivid example. Located near Jinggangshan's main scenic area, the village has developed cultural tourism by designing themed travel routes, improving hospitality services and establishing a tourism association to standardize operations.

Peng Xiaying, the village's first farm-stay owner, initially worried about the financial risks. But with encouragement from local officials and paired-up support, she took the leap and her business is thriving amid booming tourism in Jinggangshan.

"I get dividends from the sales of yellow peaches and local tea, and I run a farm-stay business and a homestay. That brings me over 90,000 yuan ($13,000) a year," she says.

Per capita annual income in Shenshan reached 36,000 yuan last year. Once a fading mountain settlement with fewer than 30 permanent residents, the village is now home to around 180 people and has become a popular rural tourism destination.

Inspired by the success of neighbors like Peng, Huang Jinlong returned home after years of working elsewhere and converted his old farmhouse into a boutique homestay.

"Even before the summer holiday started, all 10 rooms were fully booked," Huang says. "Two busy months here bring in more income than a year of working away from home."

Building on its rich revolutionary heritage, Shenshan village has woven together its revolutionary landmarks, tea gardens, and Hakka-style homes into a vibrant tapestry of rural tourism — offering immersive Red-themed study tours and authentic cultural experiences that bring history to life.

The village now receives more than 300,000 visitors a year, up from 98,000 in 2016.

To sustain growth, Shenshan set up a tourism company and brought in a professional team to develop wellness retreats and study tour offerings. These experts introduced fresh ideas and skills — including livestreaming sessions right from the tea gardens — opening up new markets for local produce.

Zhang Ying, an official with the company, says the livestreaming initiative is expected to generate an additional 200,000 yuan in annual income for the village. "We're very optimistic about the future," he adds.

Jinggangshan's signature produce also includes bamboo shoots and camellia oil. In 2025, sales of these products reached 1.4 billion yuan, with some shipments making their way to markets in Europe and North America.

Tourists exploring Jinggangshan's revolutionary heritage and mountain scenery often purchase local delicacies as souvenirs. Recognizing the opportunity, Peng began making Hakka rice cakes last year, adding another source of income to her growing business.

For villagers whose lives once revolved around cutting bamboo on the mountain slopes and tending to rice paddies down in the fields, the lush mountains and clear waters have not changed, but their value has been transformed beyond recognition.

"We never imagined life could become like this," Peng says.

XINHUA