As China advances its rural revitalization drive, Yunnan Province's flower industry is not only booming but also drawing young people back to their hometowns, injecting economic vitality and modern innovation into the countryside.
In Jinning District, a key floriculture hub in the capital city of Kunming, the flower trade is in full bloom. Roughly seven in every 10 cut flowers in China come from Yunnan, and within the province, Jinning accounts for a similar share.
One of the area's demonstration parks features 17 greenhouses dedicated to the cultivation and harvesting of fresh flowers. The park provides over 400 jobs a year, employing nearly half the residents in two nearby villages and boosting local incomes to around 40,000 yuan (about 5,600 U.S. dollars) annually.
Du Junbao, a local in his 20s, is part of this growing wave of returning youth. As a third-year agriculture student, Du is interning at a flower company in Jinning and plans to stay after graduation.
"This area is for sorting and packaging. They start at 9 a.m. [09:00], break at noon, and keep working until all the flowers are packed," said Du.
Inside the company's cold storage facility, manager Jing Wuhong said young workers adapt better to the chilly conditions, which are maintained at 2 to 6 degrees Celsius to preserve flower freshness.
"I'm a villager here. Working here makes it more convenient to take care of my kids too," said Tian Cai'e, a flower packer at the facility.
Besides full-time employment, villagers can also rent greenhouses from the local flower cooperative, which manages sales, operations, and training. Modern farming techniques have improved efficiency and profits.
"For example, with Valentine's Day around the corner, I can adjust the water and temperature to speed up flower growth," said Chen Hongwei, deputy general manager of Yunnan Hanqian Agricultural Technology.
According to Chen, farm uses filtered water mixed with precise nutrients, helping to prevent pests and disease.
"This is how the water looks after second-level filtration. Then we filter it again and add precise levels of nutrients. Traditional farming uses natural water, but that can carry bacteria and pests. Filtered water helps keep the flowers healthy and clean," he said.
These scientific methods are paying off. Every 600 square meters of greenhouse space can yield a net income of 50,000 to 80,000 yuan annually (about 7,000 to 11,200 U.S. dollars), according to company estimates.
Advanced flower farms now cover 9.3 square kilometers in Jinning -- roughly the size of 1,300 soccer fields. According to local government data, the industry has generated over 52,000 jobs, or nearly one-sixth of the district's population, and continues to inject vitality into the region's rural economy.
Yunnan's blossoming flower industry spurs economic growth, attracts young talent
