As the 13th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference convened its fourth session on Jan 13, provincial political advisers gathered in Hangzhou to submit proposals aimed at promoting the high-quality development of the province.

Yu Xiongfu, a member of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CPPCC and Party chief and head of Shang'an village in Kaihua county, Quzhou, has emphasized the importance of identifying leading local industries for rural prosperity.

Yu brought a variety of local specialties with him to the conference, including sorghum wine and noodles. These products, developed in collaboration with the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, highlight Shang'an village's remarkable transformation.

Some local specialties from Shang'an village in Kaihua county [Photo/Tide News]

The village was once struggling due to its remote location and limited resources. After several years of experimentation with various crops, Yu and other village officials successfully introduced drought-resistant sorghum in 2015. The venture yielded significant returns, prompting the establishment of processing facilities and the Shang'an Terrace Agricultural Development Company.

Today, Shang'an village boasts a thriving collective economy, generating annual revenues of over 1 million yuan ($143,403) and raising incomes for over 300 villagers. The village's success has inspired neighboring areas to expand sorghum cultivation.

With the rise of rural tourism, Shang'an now hosts an array of cultural festivals and events, drawing many visitors to its scenic landscapes.

Yu's proposal to incorporate Kaihua county into the Hangzhou-Huangshan world-class natural and cultural tourism corridor — a scenic route connecting Hangzhou and Huangshan in Anhui province — aims to leverage this opportunity to promote broader regional growth.