A new symphony: Fujian's rural vitalization

On a mountain plateau over 800 meters above sea level in Zhouning county, Ningde, Fujian province, vividly colored succulents bathe in the cool mountain air. For Liu Lin, their fleshy leaves are more than mere flora — they are an antidote to urban anxiety.

Liu's pivot from a trader of building materials to the "curator" of a greenhouse of succulent garden offers a compelling vignette of Fujian's sweeping rural revitalization.

Therapeutic economy: When agriculture meets emotional value

"I ran a building materials store for over two decades," recalls Liu, head of Zhouning-based Jingyu Horticulture. Her transformation began with a serendipitous discovery. "My first succulent was simply a way to decompress. It was beautiful and therapeutic. Eventually, my balcony held over 2,000 pots."

The career shift has delivered handsome returns. Liu notes cheerfully that succulent cultivation has helped settle debts from her previous business.

"Every leaf is money," she says with a smile.

Liu Lin does not stop her step by perceiving succulents as agricultural produce; instead, she has unearthed their underlying "emotional value". Leveraging Zhouning's distinctive alpine cool climate, the succulents here boast plump leaves, vivid hues and rich varieties, enjoying an "off-season" edge unmatched by lowland counterparts. She has gone further by introducing the concept of "floral artists", elevating succulent cultivation to the realm of artistic creation.

"My staff members are all trained floral artists," Liu explains. Drawing on floral aesthetics, they arrange succulents according to their growth habits. "We can turn succulents into art, adding value to the product."

At her greenhouse, visitors can not only purchase finished pieces but also personally experience potting, root trimming, and soil filling. This "experiential consumption" endows an ordinary plant with premium added value. At the same time, Liu has introduced a "common prosperity" model, distributing seedlings to neighboring villagers for them to nurture at home.

"The villagers can buy our seedlings, take them home, and use whatever pots they like... After six months to a year, once they meet our quality standards, we buy them back," Liu says. This flexible "courtyard economy" not only taps underutilized labor but also transforms agriculture into a revenue-generating industry right in villagers' homes.