Living Portrait of Rural Revitalization in Yanggu, Shandong

LIAOCHENG, China, Sept. 11, 2026 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

In Yanggu County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, rural revitalization has moved beyond paper blueprint to become tangible reality. In Gaomen Village in Acheng Town, formerly abandoned ponds have been transformed into charming pocket parks, where elderly villagers sit beneath pavilions, sipping tea and enjoying their leisure time.

Since the beginning of this year, Yanggu County has been advancing rural revitalization with a focus on ecological improvement, industrial upgrading and civilized rural life. At the Chenshachi Pear Orchard in Qiji Town, returnee entrepreneur Cao Hua introduced the cultivation techniques of Laiyang Autumn Moon pears. This year, the fruit hit the market 15 days early, and the first harvest was quickly snapped up by buyers. During peak farming seasons, the orchard employs more than 30 workers each day, allowing many elderly residents to earn steady income close to home.

Meanwhile, Bojiqiao Subdistrict has forged a distinctive path of “one village, one specialty.” In Qianli Village, vermicelli and fermented soybeans are sold nationwide via e-commerce. Dongqifang Village thrives on chicken paw processing; Mamiao Village develops orchard fruits and pastries; Feilou Village is known for stone milled flour; and Zhaomiao Village specializes in toy manufacturing. By adapting to local conditions and leveraging land transfers and specialty products, the villages are creating sustained benefits for residents.

In January this year, Yanggu County was included in the National Rural Revitalization Demonstration County Creation List. The county is upgrading 100,000 mu of high-standard farmland, with total summer grain output reaching 403.9 million kilograms. In the first half of the year, 71 agricultural product processing enterprises above designated size generated a combined revenue of 9.48 billion yuan, ranking first in Liaocheng City. To date, the county has established 35 provincial-level demonstration villages and 94 municipal-level ones, with both figures placing it among the top in Liaocheng. Across the county, 371 Party-led village cooperatives have facilitated the transfer of over 100,000 mu of land, generating an additional 42 million yuan in collective income for village communities.

Looking ahead, Yanggu County will continue to advance rural development and governance in a coordinated manner and strive to build a distinctive model of rural revitalization.