Flowering crabapple brings prosperity to town in Shandong

The town of Tanghe – administered by the Hedong district of Linyi city, in East China's Shandong province – has long been celebrated as the birthplace of the Chinese flowering crabapple, a wonderful variety of Malus spectabilis.

Known for its breathtaking pink and white blossoms that adorn the town each spring, the Chinese flowering crabapple has transitioned from being a floral attraction to a thriving industry, reshaping the economic landscape of the local community in the process.

The blossoms have found a new market in livestreaming sessions, becoming highly sought-after items. In just two hours, transactions surge to hundreds of orders.

During the peak blooming season, customers from far and wide flock to Tanghe, contributing to an annual turnover of seedlings and bonsais that now hits an impressive 300 million yuan ($42.06 million).

A local flower grower sells potted Chinese flowering crabapples during a livestreaming session. [Photo by Zhu Mengcang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Currently, the town is home to an expansive 32,000 mu (2,134 hectares) of Chinese flowering crabapples. Beyond the flowers, it has diversified its offerings – introducing products like flower tea and flower wine. This is boosting the incomes of 35,000 farmers in the surrounding areas, with an average annual increase of 15,000 yuan per person.

What's more, Tanghe town hosts the eagerly anticipated Chinese Flowering Crabapple Festival each year.

This event even features a 20-kilometer cycling route. It aims to boost cultural and tourism development in the region, further establishing Tanghe as a hub of floral beauty and economic prosperity. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)