At the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain in Southwest China's Yunnan province, 100,000 Black Baccara roses recently began their journey from an airport in the city of Lijiang. In no more than 36 hours, these blooms, infused with the mountain's crisp air, would adorn high-end florists in Tokyo's Ginza district.
This is just one chapter in the story of Lijiang's flourishing flower industry, which has become a new engine for rural revitalization in the ancient city. Known globally for its tourism, Lijiang is now making a name for itself as an export hub for high-quality flowers.
The floral journey began in 2014 when farmers in Qihe township in the city's Gucheng district first experimented with flower cultivation. Early challenges, including poorly constructed greenhouses and limited expertise, caused setbacks, but a 2017 provincial initiative revitalized the industry.
By 2018, an investment of 1.2 billion yuan (about $167 million) led to the establishment of a modern flower industrial park, equipped with international seed varieties, smart greenhouses and air logistics, marking a pivotal shift for the industry.
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