From eastern coasts to western mountains: A Yantai expert's mission for prosperity

Gao Feihu teaches Qiuyue pear cultivation to villagers in Wushan county. [Photo/WeChat account: zsyttv]

An agricultural specialist from Yantai, East China's Shandong province has introduced a premium Qiuyue pear variety to a remote mountain region in western China, sparking an economic revival that has transformed communities and reversed rural migration.

Gao Feihu brought the pears to Chongqing's Wushan county in 2019 through a regional cooperation program. Despite difficult terrain, an unfamiliar climate, and local skepticism, he persevered with hands-on guidance and demonstration orchards, winning over the community within three years.

The project has expanded from an initial 300-mu (20-hectare) trial to 8,000 mu across 16 townships, with Yuandu village alone generating over 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) in Qiuyue pear sales this year.

The turning point came in 2022, when demonstration orchards produced high-quality pears that commanded premium prices. Once skeptical, farmer Weng Wantang now makes 480,000 yuan a year from his 18-mu orchard. "I never imagined seeing this much money in my lifetime," said Weng, who recently honored Gao with a local award.

Qiuyue pear cultivation has filled a key seasonal gap in Wushan's farming cycle, forming a vertical agricultural system with citrus at low elevations and pears higher up. With production expected to hit 20 million kilograms at 300 million yuan, the county aims to expand cultivation to 5,000 mu by 2030, establishing Qiuyue pear as a sustainable local specialty.