Chongqing– People now proudly boast that Wushan plums have a global reputation. As July is when the orchards of Quchixiang are ripe for harvesting, this statement has never rang more true for people in this northeastern corner of Chongqing Municipality.

The sandy earth of Wushan lies in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and enjoys the natural endowments of fresh air, plentiful sunshine, a gentle climate, and geographical advantages which gave rise to this variety of sweet and juicy plums, now dubbed a ‘golden fruit’ for having reversed the fortunes of local villagers who now live in prosperity.

The online promotional campaign “Pastoral Aspirations” highlights the achievements of rural revitalization across Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Shaanxi. It features a guided tour of successful crisp plum orchards growing upon the sunbathed hillsides of Wushan County overlooking the Yangtze as part of a four-day itinerary for media representatives across multiple districts and counties in Chongqing Municipality.

A projected value of 1.7 billion yuan this year

As the home of Wushan crisp plums, this quaint village alongside the Yangtze River has reached a peak time for locals who are now busy picking, selecting, and packing this agricultural produce for nationwide delivery through road, rail, and air channels.

Nowadays, there are 60,000 households involved in cultivating Wushan plums, covering a land area of nearly 50,000 acres in 23 townships, and producing substantial incomes for 150,000 people. Wushan County expects to produce 130,000 tons of the golden fruit this year with a projected value of 1.7 billion yuan, thus driving further progress in the cause of rural revitalization throughout the local Three Gorges region.

Peng Bin, a young plantation owner, born in the 1990s, commented with excitement. "This year has given us a bumper harvest with good quality plums, and friends on social media have to order in advance to buy them. My household has sold 5000 kilograms in just four or five days, and we expect the harvest to be worth 400,000 yuan this year."

This seasoned plum grower in Wushan is one of the largest plantation owners in Wushan and has finally perfected his trade following twelve years of hands-on experience. "I didn't initially understand the art of cultivation, so it has been a long process. The Wushan County Agricultural Commission organized seminars for us to learn the key skills involved, and now we can produce better plums through organic farming methods."

A cold chain distribution center has been built 

While online sales platforms have worked for young independent growers in the region, the wholesale approach remains the principal channel for selling plums. This year, distributors have optimized their delivery mechanisms by building the Wushan Crisp Plum Distribution Warehouse, which allows big-name couriers, including China Post, Alibaba, and SF Express, to ship the produce conveniently through Wushan Airport to customers as far away as Singapore.

Sun Lei, Party Branch Secretary for Ganyuan Village, explained how new delivery systems had tapped the new market potential for local growers. "This year, we have built a cold chain distribution center with a transaction market and parking facilities, which helps growers connect with sales channels for 0.6 yuan per unit higher than the typical market value. So far, delivery companies have sold and packaged over 20,000 orders as a commissioned agent."

Wushan has also combined the appeal of spring blossoms to successively hold the "Chinese Homeland of Plums and Three Gorges Flower Sea Festival," which has promoted new developments in the cause of revitalization and brought about great strides in the modernization of rural communities.

Cliff-edge space cabins will open in August 2022

Meanwhile, in Quanfa Village, a line of ten futuristic "space cabins" now stands high up on the mountainsides, attracting tourists who now have the option to stay overnight while admiring the breathtaking scenery of mountains, countryside, and the Yangtze, stretching as far as the eye can behold.

On closer inspection, these cabins are fully equipped with modern amenities, including a bed, table, refrigerator, electric stove, air-conditioning, bathroom, and wireless internet connection. Outside, they each have an open patio with 50 square meters of space, meaning this unique attraction caters to the needs of most guests staying overnight.

Despite the apparent constraints one might expect from this mountaintop location, the smart design allows these space cabins to be installed virtually anywhere with a usage lifetime of fifty years. This versatility can be partly attributed to a self-contained water storage tank holding 600-1600 liters. A five thousand watt solar panel can be used without connection to the water supply or electrical grid.

Sun Zuyong, Party Branch Secretary of Quanfa Village, explained. "These cliff-edge space cabins should enter business operations next month (August 2022) and are expected to bring income worth over 300,000 yuan for this village. The inspiration behind this project is a desire for guests to enjoy the flowers, pick fruit, experience the hospitality, and stay in guesthouses as one integrated travel package."

In the future, Wushan County has further ambitious plans for high-quality development in the crisp plum industry, such as increased scale, technological upgrades, brand optimization, and enhanced marketing strategies, while income sourced from rural tourism will be expanded through more outstanding options in catering, accommodation, and entertainment across the industrial chain. This is expected to drive higher incomes and employment rates for rural households in surrounding areas and write a new chapter in rural revitalization.