Beekeeping venture transforms lives in Xizang's Yarlung Zangbo River Valley

At dawn in Jepa village, nestled in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, beekeepers begin lifting honeycomb from beehives while the morning air is still cool and the bees are less active.

About a decade ago, Zhang Liangfu arrived in Nedong district in Lhokha, Xizang autonomous region, with 20 beehives and started a small beekeeping venture. What began as a personal project has since expanded to a wider beekeeping business involving villages across the region.

Zhang said the shift began around 2020, when an assistance team from southern China's Anhui province suggested involving local farmers and herders. At first, many were reluctant, with some worrying that bees might harm flowers.

The team and local officials went from door to door to explain the project, and the first villagers gradually joined. Rather than becoming full-time beekeepers, many residents help inspect and maintain hives, move equipment, and monitor nearby nectar sources while continuing their usual work.

Zhang's company provides technical support and sales channels. He said related beekeeping projects now reach more than 60 villages across the region.

In 2025, 4.06 million yuan ($602,335) in dividends was distributed, benefiting more than 9,000 households and 31,000 people, Xizang Daily reported.

Combining wages, land rent, and other income, the sector generated more than 8 million yuan in additional income for involved farmers and herders in Nedong district over the year, the report said.

The change has also altered how some villagers view the insects. "People who once worried that bees might eat the flowers are now planting flowers and flowering trees themselves, creating more sources of nectar for the hives," Zhang said.