Green development pays off in Beijing village

Rural revitalization is an important part of Beijing's development. In recent years, the city has devoted resources to pursuing a green economy for more sustainable and environmentally friendly development. Beilangzhong Village on the city's northeast outskirt is a beacon of such development.

"Green" is at the core of the development of Beilangzhong Village. Named as the most beautiful recreational village in 2018, the village has been pursuing a green economy, green living environment and producing green products.

Up to now, the village has formed a circular economy with a coordinated development of primary, secondary and tertiary industries. Village chief Yan Baoheng says their major industries include pig breeding, flower production, food processing and delivery, as well as tourism agriculture.

"Our pig breeding has been outsourced to Inner Mongolia, which is also a poverty alleviation project for locals. Our vegetable and flower bases connect research, production, sales and recreation together. About food processing, while we upgrade our existing projects, we also have cooperation with neighboring Wuqiang County in Hebei Province."

Flower production at Beilangzhong Village on March 27, 2019. [Photo: China Plus]

According to Yan, a modern farm has been set up in the community, increasing the prospects of development for the village's outsourced pig breeding. Making full use of its land, the vegetable farm is open to tourists to pick their own fresh produce. Its flower production base now covers an area equal to 90 football fields, taking up one fifth of the village's total land. The flowers have been used for many important events like the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the country's founding.

Yan Baoheng suggests the village also made good plans for the use of its land, constructing high-end office buildings for enterprises and start-ups..

"We have 90,000 square meters land to serve the small and medium sized tech and innovative companies."

Beilangzhong Innovation&Venture Industry Park, March 27,2019.[Photo: China Plus]

Now, over 100 enterprises have been attracted to this village, including a manufacturing base of Benz new energy vehicles.

All these efforts are paying off. Villagers can not only work in those production bases or enter companies, but also get dividends from collectively-owned economies. 48-year-old Ms Liang works at the flower base.

"My job is to take care of these flowers, watering them and do some fertilization sometimes. It's not hard and I feel happy to work here with flowers around me. My husband works in the food processing factory in our village. Besides our own salary, we also got dividends from the village at the end of each year."

Last year, disposable income for each villager reached 41,000 yuan or 6,100 U.S. dollars, nearly three times the average income for rural residents in China, which stands at 14,600 yuan.