Qianchang village, located in the Rucheng sub-district of Rugao, is renowned for its turf cultivation industry. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

In Qianchang village, located in the Rucheng sub-district of Rugao, villagers are busy preparing for the upcoming turf planting season.

Qianchang village is home to unique sandy soil, which is unsuitable for traditional crops but provides ideal conditions for turf cultivation. The village took its first steps into the turf industry 30 years ago. The village collective leased 4 hectares of idle land to large-scale growers, introducing turf planting projects. As urban landscaping demands grew, local officials recognized the industry's potential and actively promoted it, inviting experts to provide training and technical support. Over time, turf cultivation became the village's leading industry.

Today, more than half of the village's households—between 300 and 400 families—are farming turf. The industry has expanded beyond Qianchang, driving turf cultivation across 1,333 hectares in neighboring villages and towns. The village sells approximately 4.5 million square meters of turf annually, with the full industry chain generating over 300 million yuan ($41.39 million) in revenue. 

To maintain green turf year-round, villagers have developed a mixed planting method combining heat-tolerant and cold-resistant grass varieties. Over the past three decades, Qianchang's turf species have undergone multiple upgrades. To prevent soil erosion, the village has adopted industrial turf production techniques and collaborated with institutions such as Nanjing Agricultural University to cultivate high-quality turf with strong resistance to foot traffic, drought, and pests.

Additionally, the village is integrating tourism with the turf industry by investing in projects like the Snail Camp, enhancing its lush green landscapes' scenic and recreational value.