Rural Pingyao rises from rose planting

A farmer shows off two baskets of roses he picked in Liji Rose Agricultural and Ecological Sightseeing Industrial Park, Yuebi township, Pingyao county. [Photo/sxgov.cn]

The second Pingyao Liji Rose Tourism Festival, which opened on May 20, attracted crowds to Yuebi township in Pingyao county, North China's Shanxi province.

In recent years, Yuebi township has accelerated the development of green agriculture and promoted the integration of agriculture and tourism, education, culture industries.

Liji Rose Agricultural and Ecological Sightseeing Industrial Park in local Liji village is a typical example of the transformation and development of Yuebi township.

The industrial park is building a modern industry integrating rose planting, product processing, sales, tourism and leisure.

According to Wang Wusheng, the person in charge of the park, the 20-hectare park is equipped with a 2,000-square-meter research and development and processing area for edible rose products. 

With advanced laboratory equipment and over 10 sets of processing equipment, the area focuses on the research and development and large-scale production of rose foods, herbal teas, rose sauce and rose-based cosmetics. 

In November 2020, the park's rose series products went on sale on e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba, Pinduoduo and Taobao, so that products could be directly sold to consumers in addition to offline marketing. 

The industrial park has helped local farmers increase their income. There are about 40 pickers working there every day. "Thanks to the job opportunity offered by the park, I can earn at least 80 yuan ($12.43) a day near home," said Hou Lingyu, a local picker. 

In addition, Liji village has integrated into the overall tourism planning and development of Yuebi township through the development of the rose industrial park. Over the recent May Day holiday from May 1 to 5, the industrial park received more than 1,000 tourists every day.

"We are going to drive rural tourism in Yuebi township by developing Liji village into a holy land of romance," said Yin Lili, deputy Party secretary of Yuebi township.