YNU team steps into front line of rural vitalization

Students from the School of Marxism and the School of Foreign Languages at Yunnan University, or YNU – located in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province – formed a special team to conduct field research in Yongping and Yunlong counties on July 16-18.

Yongping and Yunlong counties are located in Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan.

During the three days, the team members visited the Yongping County No 1 High School History Museum, the Dalishu Tea Factory at the junction of Yongping and Yunlong, the "568" section of the Burma Road, Qudong village and other locations.

The team visits Yongping County No 1 High School History Museum during the field research. [Photo/WeChat account of Yunnan University]

On July 17, the team visited the Dalishu Tea Factory, where the visitors held a discussion with a senior manager there about rural revitalization.

The Dalishu Tea Factory was established in 1987 in Yunwu Mountain, at an altitude of 2,400 meters. It produces high-quality tea thanks to the local cool climate, abundant rainfall and fertile soil.

According to a representative from the factory, it combines traditional tea-making techniques with modern processing technology. The resulting tea has a glossy color and a rich, sweet aftertaste, making it popular with customers.

The factory has planted tea trees in an area covering more than 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares) and boasts significant annual output, making it a leading tea producer in Yunnan province.

In recent years, it has not only succeeded in optimizing its tea cultivation but has also actively promoted local economic development and helped to increase the incomes of farmers.

The factory has also engaged more than 2,000 local and surrounding households in planting and picking tea. In 2022, it purchased over 2.9 million kilograms of fresh leaves from the farmers, paying more than 36 million yuan ($4.99 million) for them.

Team members sample fresh tea leaves at the factory on July 17. [Photo/WeChat account of Yunnan University]

On the same day, the team also visited Qudong village, a transportation hub located at the intersection of Dali, Baoshan, and Nujiang autonomous prefectures. In recent years, the village has leveraged its geographical advantages to vigorously develop trade and commerce.

Specializing in walnut cultivation and trading, the locals have established the Yunnan Walnut Trading Center, with an annual transaction volume exceeding 12,000 metric tons and a transaction amount of over 2 billion yuan.

During the field research, the team members explored the demonstration area to learn about the solidarity and unity of its ethnic groups and delved into the forefront of rural revitalization, gaining a deeper understanding of China.