Revitalizing Rural China: How Young Talents are Bringing Innovation and Growth Back Home

Lifestyle

Wang Junjun’s story is an inspiring example of how returning to one’s hometown can lead to prosperity. After working outside his village in Gansu Province, Wang returned home and found success in planting traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. His experience encouraged more young men to follow suit and contribute to China’s rural revitalization initiative.

Wang’s success story highlights the potential for young people to drive growth in rural areas. As more young people return to their hometowns, they bring with them new skills and ideas, creating opportunities for innovation and economic growth. Wang’s contribution to the local economy through traditional Chinese medicinal herbs is just one example of how returning young talent can make a significant impact.

Wang Junjun, a young man who used to work outside his hometown, found prosperity through planting traditional Chinese medicinal herbs after returning to his village in northwest China’s Gansu Province. His story has inspired more young men to follow suit and contribute to the country’s rural vitalization drive.

In 2014, 30-year-old Wang returned to his hometown, Xinping village, Fuxing town, Longxi county of Gansu. He was drawn to the area as Longxi county is a major cultivation, storage and processing base of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in northwest China. Wang decided to invest in the local economy by planting herbs such as Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus. He invested 30,000 yuan (about $4,437) into the business and learned planting techniques from some senior citizens in the village.

Wang’s hard work and investment paid off, and he earned 70,000 yuan from the business in 2014. The success encouraged him to transfer more land and plant over 20 mu (about 1.33 hectares) of herbs the following year. He also purchased some farming equipment. To make the business more sustainable and inclusive, he worked with his fellow villagers. He shared his farming equipment with them, transported herbs for them for free, and asked them to help him when he needed workers.

According to Wang, their mutual help allowed them to make more profits. With the wealth generated from his thriving medicinal herb business, he bought two vans and a house in the town. By doing so, he was able to help revitalize his hometown, while at the same time enjoying the benefits of his hard work.

Wang Junjun’s success story in his traditional Chinese medicinal herb farming venture in Xinping village has inspired other young men to return home and work in the rural areas. One of them is Wang Yanwei, who became an apprentice to Wang Junjun in 2019. Starting with a land area of over 10 mu, Wang Yanwei now manages over 40 mu and earns a decent income.

With more young men returning to their villages and working in the rural areas, Yang Delin, the mayor of Fuxing town, expressed his confidence in the prospects of rural vitalization. He noted that these young talents are motivated and committed to making a difference in their communities.

According to Yang, the government has also introduced policies to support young talents in the rural areas. The government encourages the development of various industries in the countryside, such as traditional Chinese medicine and organic farming, and provides funds and training to those who are interested.

Yang believes that with the right support and policies in place, the rural areas in China can become an attractive place for young people to live and work. He hopes that the success stories of Wang Junjun and Wang Yanwei will inspire more young talents to return to their villages and contribute to the rural revitalization drive.

The success of these young men in the rural areas also reflects the changing perception of young people towards their career paths. More and more young people are beginning to appreciate the opportunities and rewards that rural work can offer, and they are increasingly seeing it as a viable and fulfilling career choice.

Wang’s success story serves as a source of inspiration for other young people in his village and beyond, encouraging them to return home and help revitalize rural communities. His commitment to sharing resources and knowledge with his fellow villagers also underscores the importance of collaboration and mutual assistance in achieving success. With more young talents returning to rural areas and investing in local businesses, China’s rural economy is poised for growth and prosperity.

Overall, Wang’s journey from migrant worker to successful business owner demonstrates the potential for rural revitalization in China and the role that returning young talents can play in driving this development.

By inspiring other young people to invest in their hometowns, Wang has played an important role in China’s rural vitalization drive. His success not only benefits his own community but also serves as a model for others looking to make a positive impact on their hometowns. With more young people like Wang returning to rural areas, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of China’s rural communities.