Huili emerges as one of China's largest pomegranate-producing areas

Gu Fachao, Party secretary of Hongla village, said his village has spent more than a decade turning barren hillsides into premium soft-seed pomegranate orchards. The total area of its pomegranate orchards has increased from 130 hectares in 2002 to over 1,470 hectares today.

Households in the village now earn more than 200,000 yuan ($29,800) a year from the fruit on average, with per capita disposable income exceeding 35,000 yuan, according to Gu. "The pomegranate industry has transformed our lives," he said. "Villagers have moved into new homes and bought new cars."

He Shuang, a resident in Wanhong village, quit her job as a flight attendant in 2017 and returned home to sell pomegranates through livestreaming. Today, her company's annual sales exceed 80 million yuan.

The company purchases over 5,000 tons of pomegranates each year and creates more than 350 jobs during the harvest season. It gives priority to vulnerable groups and has paid out over 30 million yuan in wages, she said.

"This year has seen a bumper harvest," said He. "By bringing in a well-known livestreaming team, Huili pomegranates have gained huge attention, with sales and prices both rising noticeably. Growers have seen an increase in income."