Workshop stores for woven bamboo products generate surprisingly high profits.[Photo: China Foto Press]

Tasteful and Tasty Rewards

Running a rural family inn has become a popular channel through which Zunyi farmers can become real players in China's economic success story. Tree-shaded residences with signature architectural characteristics of northern Guizhou - like that of the Yang family inn �C now dot the green mountains along the road to Zunyi, beckoning to passers-by. The county government has also set up offices in Chongqing and big cities in Guizhou Province that praise the charms of Meitan County and help its innkeepers solicit tourists.

For their part, tourists get some R&R to balance the fatigue that comes with their urban prosperity. 'In the rural communities of our county, visitors are treated to clean crisp air, pastoral views, and what's more, fresh, naturally-raised foods,' said Peng Deliang, pointing out yet another selling point. 'On our farmlands no chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used. You can see for yourself that in the rice fields farmers also raise fish, a cooperative project with Zhejiang University,' said Peng Deliang.

Called a 'high-efficiency rice field symbiotic system,' the rice paddy produces what are called 'Zhejiang Qingtian Fish,' a tender-fleshed species highly sensitive to its environment that can live only in unpolluted spring water. Implementation of this project, where no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are allowed, started in 2008. The fish live on insects common to rice fields, and their feces act as fertilizer. 'In harvest season, we reap the rice and haul in the fish,' said Tang Shubin, a farmer in Lianglupin Village. His participation in the symbiotic experiment in 2008 yielded RMB 60,000, doubling his proceeds from the previous year.

Meitan County also produces high quality tea. 'Of the Longjing Tea sold nationwide, 85 percent is produced here. Even dealers from Zhejiang (a traditional tea-growing province) come to buy our tea,' said Peng Deliang. At present, the county's tea plantations cover an area of roughly 15,000 hectares, and the annual output exceeds 8,000 tons, earning it a designation by the Ministry of Agriculture. Ambitious Meitan County is not satisfied with OEM now, but hopes to create its own brand name. Its green tea, 'Meitan Jade Green Sprout,' has already carved a niche for itself in the market. Meitan so far is the only county in Southwest China to win the title 'home of famous China tea.'

'In the past, we went out to work as hired hands, now migrant workers come here to work for us. Really great changes,' said Peng Deliang, beaming with pride and delight.