Huaxi's Jiuan township transitions from coal industry to green industry

As the tea industry flourishes, numerous villagers from Xiaoshan village in Jiuan township, Huaxi district, Guiyang city, who previously worked elsewhere, have returned home. This village's talent loss rate has dropped from 70 percent to 10 percent.

Jiuan began exploring industrial transformation in 2007 and closed all small coal mines in 2010. Today, the town has over 20,000 mu (1,333.33 hectares) of tea gardens and more than 54,000 ancient tea trees.

Jiuan advanced the intelligent management of ancient tea trees, designated core protection areas, and introduced the environmental monitoring and integrated water and fertilizer system. Additionally, the township collaborated with the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Tea Research Institute to promote green pest control technologies, reducing the usage of pesticides and integrating technology with traditional industries.

The township also pursued the intensive and branded development of the tea industry, involving over 1,600 households, increasing the average annual income of each by more than 10,000 yuan ($1,405.78). Guizhou Jiuan Ancient Tea Tree Tea Industry Co has launched a new tea milling production line, which cost over 4 million yuan, producing 1.2 metric tons of finished tea daily for export to multiple countries.

Jiuan is integrating the tea industry with culture and tourism. The township has registered the "Mangfu Ancient Tea" brand, developed "tea feasts" such as red tea rice, and organized events like the "Spring Tea Harvest Festival," creating the "Tea-Charm Mountain Residence" travel demonstration site, significantly boosting tourism income.

Villagers in Jiuan township pick tea leaves in the tea fields. [Photo/WeChat account of Huaxi district]