Tai'an bolsters its Mount Tai tea industry and promotes integrated development of tea and tourism. [Photo/Dazhong News]

In recent years, Tai'an in Shandong has been intent on developing modern large-scale agriculture, accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and constructing livable, business-friendly, and beautiful countryside.

With a foundation in increasing industrial efficiency and farmers' income, Tai'an has fostered new quality productive forces in rural areas, cultivated new rural industries and formats, and promoted comprehensive rural vitalization.

The geographical and cultural roots of Tai’an have nurtured unique business opportunities, such as regional fruits, Dongping Lake fish, and Xintai duck. In recent years, through industry integration, ecological transformation, and technological breakthroughs, Tai'an's distinctive agricultural sector has undergone profound transformation and upgrade, accentuating its uniqueness and radiating new vitality.

Mount Tai is the birthplace of northern Chinese tea culture and a center of tea customs. The renowned Mount Tai tea has long been famous in the region. In recent years, Tai'an has bolstered its Mount Tai tea industry, and promoted the integrated development of tea and tourism, and all these efforts have helped transform local tea leaves into farmers' prosperity.

"Mount Tai Lake has the natural advantages of green mountains and clear waters that attract visitors, along with tea gardens built on the hillsides. Many young villagers have returned to become 'professional tea farmers'," said Li Jinshan, Party secretary of Xiaojinkou village in Taishan district, Tai'an.

With the impetus of Xiaojinkou village, over 6,000 mu (400 hectares) of tea gardens have emerged in the vicinity, transforming once secluded and barren hillside villages. Through its growing tea industry, Xiaojinkou village was recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as a national village with a characteristic industry worth 100 million yuan ($13.7 million).