In the southwestern part of East China's Shandong province, the Yellow River flows gently and constantly, nourishing a vibrant land of hope in the grain-producing county of Juancheng.
Juancheng, which administers two sub-districts and 15 towns with a total population of over 923,000, witnessed its regional GDP hit some 31 billion yuan ($4.36 billion) in 2024, a jump of 6.5 percent year-on-year.
At the township of Lijinshitang (the Hall of Senior Scholar Li Passing the Highest Imperial Examination), a strawberry industrial park has been set up, shining like a bright pearl in the Yellow River basin and helping bolster local rural vitalization.
At the strawberry seedling base in Lijinshitang, strawberries are arranged neatly in rows, and under the gentle touch of sunlight, their leaves stretch out in lush greenery.
Rooted in the fertile soil moistened by water from the Yellow River and thrived with the favorable timing and location, these strawberry seedlings are extraordinary, said Zhou Yujiang, secretary of the Party branch at Tianlou village.
He said through an innovative model of cooperation, resources such as land, funds and manpower have been integrated, leading to a broad development platform for the strawberry seedling industry in the town.
With the development model of “industrial park, cooperatives and farmers,” farmers invest in shares through land transfer and join in investment management, sharing the dividends of industrial development, while cooperatives play a coordinating role, with unified management, greenhouse construction, and guidance on planting techniques and product sales.
“This model not only revitalizes the land but also enables villagers to achieve employment and income growth right at their doorsteps,” Zhou said, noting that the nursery base employs over 200 people on a daily basis, offering farmers a new way to get rich through the strawberry industry.
Liu Zhuo, a county resident, stressed that to further boost its strawberry industry, Lijinshitang has creatively organized various cultural activities, including its newly concluded 2nd Strawberry Culture Festival.
He noted that during the event, exciting cultural performances, as well as fun strawberry-picking experiences made visitors linger, bringing joy to tourists and boosting the local trade.
Liu added that the town also intends to build its own unique brand of “Senior Strawberry Scholar,” forming an industrial cluster in the future.
