Nandan Baping villagers live comfortable life

A riverside view of Baping village. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

Honored as being "China's beautiful leisure village" in 2017 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Baping village in Hechi's Nandan county has beautiful rice fields and rural landscape as well as providing a comfortable way of life to its residents. 

The unique climate and geographical advantages have made Baping rice famous. In order to get the villagers out of poverty, Baping village has guided villagers to develop the Baping rice industry chain. The planting scale has grown from 300 mu (20 hectares) in 2010 to more than 11,200 mu in 2021.

Baping village has established a combination development model of agriculture and tourism. Tan Huifan, the deputy mayor of Mangchang town, said they have successfully introduced four agricultural enterprises to develop characteristic industries such as Nandan Baping rice, red kiwifruit and camellia oil.

Tan added that since the infrastructure construction has been fully carried out, Baping village has gradually formed five major scenic spots spanning its scenic terraced fields, a sea of rice flowers, Baping Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park, a farming experience zone, and an agricultural sightseeing area. In 2020, the village received 74,600 tourists, and has a per capita annual income of 13,787 yuan ($2,127).

A 64-year-old villager named Huang Jinghuan was the first group of people in the village to start a farmhouse thanks to the rise of its agricultural tourism projects in Baping village.

The tourism industry development has also provided more job opportunities for young people. Huang Liangyi, the son of Huang Jinhuan, chose to stay in his hometown and become a truck driver at a local scenic spot. There are many Baping villagers like Huang who live comfortably in their hometown of Baping village.