Guyuan's green transformation: Thriving eco-industries and award-winning agricultural products in Ningxia

Guyuan apples are known for their vivid red color and large size. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Guyuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, is focusing on ecological industrialization and industrial ecology, vigorously developing eco-economic industries such as specialty economic forests, Liupan Mountains characteristic seedlings, and underforest economies, while also promoting the integrated development of forestry, culture, and tourism.

By the end of 2023, the city's specialty economic forests, including red plum apricots and apples, covered an area of over 340,000 mu (22,667 hectares). The preserved seedling area reached 80,000 mu (5,333 hectares), while underforest poultry, beekeeping, and medicinal cultivation remained stable at one million birds, 100,000 bee colonies, and 100,000 mu (6,667 hectares), respectively. Additionally, the annual collection and processing of forest products exceeded 15,000 metric tons.

Xiji county's Longwangba has been honored with titles such as "China's Most Beautiful Leisure Village", "National Ecological Culture Village", and "Key National Rural Tourism Village".

Additionally, "Jingyuan Honey" has been registered as a National Geographical Indication Agricultural Product.

Pengyang red plum apricots and Chaona chicken have been listed as National Geographical Indication Products, with Pengyang red plum apricots winning the silver award at the 2019 World Horticultural Exposition Fruit Competition.

Apples from Pengyang county, Yuanzhou district, and Longde county have repeatedly secured first and second prizes in Ningxia apple competitions. These high-quality apples are sold in major cities across China, including Shanghai and Guangdong.