Huangshan village's green leap of rural vitalization

Xin'anyuan village in Hecheng township, Xiuning county, Huangshan, has transformed nature conservation into a path to rural vitalization, reflecting the idea that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".

Years ago, the village relied on logging, which depleted the forests and made it hard for residents to make a living. A turning point came in 2004 when Li Faquan, Party chief of the village, started promoting sustainable farming.

Central to this shift was the cultivation of organic tea. Farmers stopped using chemical herbicides, began using natural fertilizers, and adopted eco-friendly techniques.

Li communicates with a tea farmer about organic tea cultivation. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]

This upgraded their tea from a simple crop to a premium product, with prices increasing from 40 yuan ($5.6) to 440 yuan per kilogram. Currently, 80 percent of the village's 2,400-mu (160-hectare) tea gardens are certified organic.

The village further developed green industries by planting 549 mu (36.6 hectares) of torreya nuts, intercropped with tea and medicinal herbs. Li also established Huangshan's first village patrol to protect local forests and waterways, helping restore the area's natural balance.

The torreya trees thrive under the careful tending of villagers. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]

Today, the per capita income exceeds 30,000 yuan - a tenfold increase. With titles like "National Forest Village", Xin'anyuan shines, demonstrating how Huangshan transforms green hills into golden prospects.