A young entrepreneur from a remote Yi ethnic minority village in southwest China's Sichuan Province persistently expands her hometown business by involving more villagers to get prosperous together, which she calls "the real way forward."
Ehuo Azhi, the young entrepreneur, lives deep in the mountains in Sichuan's Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. She now runs a rural retreat business and will help more villagers use live-streaming to sell their local produce nationwide.
She had a successful life in the city after graduating from a university in Beijing, building her career in the clothing and restaurant businesses. She saved about 100,000 U.S. dollars.
Then she decided to return to her hometown and tried her hand at rural businesses, transitioning from sheep and chicken farming to the rural retreat now. She was elected as a deputy to the Xide County people's congress in 2021.
"Receiving higher education doesn't mean leaving the mountains forever. In my mind, it means bringing what we've learned outside back home," she said.
Reality, however, proved far tougher than she imagined.
Her first business in her hometown, a pig farm, was wiped out by African Swine Fever.
Her second attempt at raising chickens was difficult due to poor infrastructure and weak disease control, resulting in the death of half the flock. She nearly used up all her savings, but refused to give up.
Her third attempt finally brought a breakthrough. Starting with just 50 sheep, she doubled the size within a year.
In 2023, she launched the rural retreat, combining agriculture, dining, and camping into a comprehensive rural tourism experience. To attract visitors, she also began posting short videos online.
"Starting a business back in the village definitely comes with hardships, but things are steadily moving forward. My dream is still alive," she said.
After her personal success, the young entrepreneur shifted her focus from growing her own business to creating opportunities for others. At its peak, her businesses employed more than 100 local residents, and today they continue to support the community by guaranteeing dividends to 12 households.
Looking ahead, she plans to launch a "Village Livestreaming Courtyard" to help local farmers sell their specialties directly to consumers nationwide through online platforms.
"Before, it was just about running my own business. Now, it's about helping my hometown grow. When I find a good opportunity, I want to bring everyone along. Getting rich alone doesn't really mean much, right? Prospering together -- that's the real way forward," she said.
Ethnic minority woman entrepreneur grows rural businesses together with hometown villagers
