ඇසේලියා මලෙන් වාසනාව උරගාන ග්වෙයිජෝ පළාත
Azalea blossoms create economic fortunes in southwest China's Guizhou
The Azalea Scenic Area in Bijie, southwest China's Guizhou Province, has seen its sea of flowers reaching full bloom in recent days, ushering in the year's most colorful and beautiful season.
Over a million tourists flock to the scenic area each spring to see the riot of color and vibrant hues of azaleas as far as the eye can see.
The scenic zone, a once impoverished region, has revitalized its rural areas through focused development of its scenic and cultural assets.
The park is considered the most beautiful and colorful belt of azaleas on Earth, as these stunning colors of azaleas stretch as far as 100 miles, earning it's name "Baili Dujuan", meaning "one-hundred mile Azalea" in Chinese.
It's also the world's largest preserved primitive azalea forest, crowded with over 40 Azalea species.
Yet, there's a backstory to this floral spectacle, on how 150,000 residents nurtured a laid-back town into a present-day national agricultural-tourism success story, and a model for China's rural vitalization.
"Nearly 50,000 people, that's about one-third of the population, rely on the flower-viewing economy to increase income in Baili Dujuan District. By developing different scenic spots, residents' income has increased. Many of them depend on tourism for a living," said Ding Lian, deputy head of the scenic area's tourism bureau.
Every blossom season, tens of thousands of tourists visit the park at any given day.
The marriage of governance with foresight, people participation, preservation of nature, respect for culture, and reasonable use of science and technology, has helped the businesses of Huijing Flower Science and Technology Park prosper.
It's a company dedicated to propagating Azalea species that bloom for one month longer.
More than that, the park is also doing business with customers outside Guizhou, or even outside China, to to South Korea and Vietnam.
Since its establishment in 2022, the company has hired dozens of local farmers, providing them not just with alternative income, but also advanced skills training to ensure a better harvest of azaleas.
Fifteen-seven-year-old Ye Xianghui is one of the farmers-turned-gardeners.
Before joining Huijing, she planted potatoes and corn, making less than 400 yuan or some 55 U.S. dollars per month.
But now her income has seen a nearly tenfold increase after working as a gardener here.
"I used to live on planting crops and doing farm work, with very little income. Now, at the flower science and technology park, I can make more than 3,000 yuan (about 414 U.S. dollars) per month. I can take care of my family, and even raise pigs and cows. The job is easier and cleaner. I can wear clean clothes and shoes. And it's not tiring. I'm very happy with my life now," she said.
As millions flock to see the wonder of the scenic area every year, and as Bijie City enjoys prosperity as a result, it is assuring to know that every effort is made to leave no member of the community behind.
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