by Xinhua writers Zheng Bofei and Wang Xiaopeng
NANCHANG, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Deep in the lush forests of Pulong Village in Jinggangshan, east China's Jiangxi Province, Li Yunyan now manages more than 90 beehives. What was once a small-scale "sweet industry" has become a steady source of income for his mountain home.
The 46-year-old Li, who has limited mobility, has long depended on beekeeping for his livelihood. Yet for years, his business failed to grow due to limited scale and market access.
"In the past, I had only 30 to 40 beehives and had to carry honey out for sale," Li said. "The mountain roads were difficult, and even high-quality honey could not always fetch a good price."
The situation began to change when local Party organizations helped the village establish direct links with enterprises. Beekeepers were guided to expand their colonies, provided with regular technical training, and connected to unified procurement channels.
Today, Li no longer worries about selling his honey. Enterprises now purchase it directly at his doorstep. For villagers who are unable to do heavy labor, ecological farming and beekeeping have created a more sustainable way to boost local income.
Li's experience reflects how Jinggangshan -- known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution -- is unlocking the value of its green resources to fuel broader development.
Among old revolutionary bases across the country, Jinggangshan carries special historical significance. In 1927, Mao Zedong led a fledgling group of Chinese revolutionaries deep into the mountains around Jinggangshan, where they established the first rural revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Decades later, Jinggangshan reached another milestone: in 2017, it became the first region in China to be removed from the national list of impoverished counties -- about three years before the nationwide victory in eradicating absolute poverty.
Transformation has continued at the village level as rural revitalization is pushed forward under the leadership of the CPC, which marked its 105th founding anniversary with a gathering on July 1.
The strategy has focused on objectives such as ensuring rural areas are equipped with modern living conditions and narrowing the urban-rural divide.
Shenshan Village, tucked away in the green mountains of Jinggangshan, illustrates the tangible changes brought by rural revitalization in recent years.
Leveraging its proximity to Jinggangshan's core scenic area and rich ecological resources, the village Party branch led the planning of cultural tourism routes, invited experts to provide service training, and established a tourism association to standardize operations.
Peng Xiaying, the first villager to open a farm-stay business in Shenshan, hesitated at first for fear of losing money. But with encouragement from local officials and paired-up support, she took the leap and her business is thriving amid booming tourism in Jinggangshan.
"I get dividends from the sales of yellow peaches and local tea, and I run a farm-stay business and a homestay. That brings me over 90,000 yuan (about 13,000 U.S. dollars) a year," she said.
Villagers' per capita annual income rose to 36,000 yuan last year, turning the once hollowed-out village into a popular rural destination.
About a decade ago, this tourist-packed village was a dying mountain hamlet with fewer than 30 residents living there year-round. Its population had rebounded to around 180.
Like many in his village, Huang Jinlong had long worked far from home. But inspired by the success of Xia and others, he came back to Shenshan and turned his old farmhouse into a boutique homestay.
"Before the summer holiday even began, all 10 rooms had already been booked," Huang said. "Two busy months here are worth a whole year of working outside."
Building on its rich revolutionary heritage, Shenshan Village has woven together its revolutionary landmarks, tea gardens, and Hakka-style homes into a vibrant tapestry of rural tourism -- offering immersive red-themed study tours and authentic cultural experiences that bring history to life.
The village now receives more than 300,000 visitors a year, up from 98,000 in 2016.
To put revitalization on a lasting footing, Shenshan set up a tourism company and brought in a professional team to develop wellness retreats and study tour offerings. These experts introduced fresh ideas and skills -- including livestreaming sessions right from the tea gardens -- opening up new markets for local produce.
Zhang Ying, an official with the company, said the livestreaming initiative is expected to generate an additional 200,000 yuan in annual income for the village. "We're very optimistic about what lies ahead," he added.
Jinggangshan's signature produce also includes bamboo shoots and camellia oil. In 2025, sales of these products reached 1.4 billion yuan, with some shipments making their way to markets in Europe and North America.
In addition to ecological products, tourists visiting Jinggangshan -- whether to explore its revolutionary heritage or simply soak up the natural scenery -- often pick up local specialty snacks as souvenirs. Spotting this opportunity, Peng began making Hakka rice cakes last year, adding yet another income stream to her growing list of ventures.
For villagers whose lives once revolved around cutting bamboo on the mountain slopes and tending to rice paddies down in the fields, the lush mountains and clear waters remain the same -- but their value has been transformed beyond recognition.
"We never dreamed of a life like this," Peng said. ■
