Connect Points into Areas, Advance Rural Revitalization by Regions (People's Perspective: Comprehensive Rural Revitalization)

(Original Title: Reporters Visit Zhejiang Hangzhou, Shandong Qingdao, Jiangsu Suzhou, and Other Places to Explore Clustered Development and Regional Promotion of Rural Revitalization (People’s Eye: Comprehensive Rural Revitalization))

Introduction

How much money can a farm stay hidden in a mountain valley earn in a year? In Huangni Village, Tieshan Street, Xihai’an New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, the owner’s wife Yang Xiaoxia’s answer is astonishing: “Over one million yuan!”

What has brought such good business?

Rural vitality stems from regional collaboration: In June 2022, the Yangjia Mountain Rural Revitalization Cluster was established, including two administrative villages—Yangjia Mountain Village One and Two—under Tieshan Street, with eight natural villages such as Huangni Lane, Southeast Cliff, Daxiazhuang, and Houshi Gou. The cluster integrates resources related to mountains and water, culture, and industry, planning and operating as a whole, which has boosted tourism and accelerated Yang Xiaoxia’s business.

Not only Yangjia Mountain. In recent years, some areas have explored forming clusters of neighboring villages with similar functions and industries, using the cluster as a unit for unified planning, policy coordination, and resource integration, effectively increasing agricultural efficiency and farmers’ income.

The “14th Five-Year Plan” outline proposes “classified, orderly, and regionalized promotion of rural revitalization.”

Why promote rural revitalization through clustering? What are the results? What difficulties remain during implementation? Recently, reporters visited Qingdao, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and other places.

Where does the motivation come from?

Enhancing scale efficiency, precisely allocating resources, and solving unbalanced development issues

At the entrance of Huangni Lane Village, there is a farm stay called “Shanshui Xianju.” Despite the early spring chill, cars are still parked at the entrance. “This noon, I didn’t have a moment to rest,” says Yang Xiaoxia, the owner’s wife. She is from the village, and although she complains, her face is full of a smile.

Huangni Lane Village used to look very different: dirt roads were broken, the village was poor, local girls outside the village didn’t want to marry in, and local men were eager to leave. When young, Yang Xiaoxia left this “poor nest” and worked outside for many years.

In 2020, she returned home for family visits. The beautiful rural construction has transformed the village: roads are wide, houses are tidy, large cherry trees cover the mountains, and during harvest season, visitors come in droves.

Seizing the opportunity, Yang Xiaoxia developed her hometown, opening “Shanshui Xianju,” and her business flourished. Many villagers followed suit, and farm stays opened one after another. But over time, problems began to emerge.

“Single villages are small, with limited tourism projects. After eating farm food and taking a quick tour, visitors leave. Business is seasonal; in winter, many places have to close,” Yang Xiaoxia recalls.

In Zuzengjian, Secretary of Tieshan Street Party Committee, he sees these mountain villages as “treasures”: Huangni Lane has cherry orchards, Daxiazhuang has the Great Wall relics, Southeast Cliff has red tourism resources… But previously, each village “sang its own tune,” and good resources were scattered, making it difficult to achieve scale benefits or extend the rural industry chain.

“Take Huangni Lane as an example. The village has many cherries, but villagers’ stalls often can’t sell at good prices, sometimes even rotting in the fields,” Zuzengjian explains. “The street wanted to build a processing plant, but there was no suitable idle land in the village.”

In June 2022, Qingdao launched the first batch of municipal-level rural revitalization clusters, and Yangjia Mountain Cluster was born. The cluster lies in the “arm bend” of Tiegua Mountain, Yuejie Mountain, and Shui Niu Mountain, with a river running through it, mountains and water intertwined, home to 1,023 households, and was selected as a “Rural Revitalization Qilu Model Provincial Cluster” in 2024. Qingdao already has eight such provincial clusters.

Under the unified planning of the cluster, idle land and other resources of each village are allocated collectively. The previously unplaceable cherry processing factory now has a “home”; local resources such as mountains, water, historic sites, and red culture are integrated, tourism routes are reasonably planned, and the shortcomings of individual villages with few attractions are addressed.

“Now, some tourists, after visiting other places, come to our village for farm food, and the seasonal differences are less obvious,” Yang Xiaoxia says.

Similar to Yangjia Mountain, in the Liangzhu Street North Cluster of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, the “solo performance” of village development is turning into a “grand chorus” of industrial upgrading.

In the Xin’gang Village within the cluster, the sports industry is booming, with badminton courts, gyms, and other facilities. In 2024, investors came to inspect, planning to build an archery range, but space was limited and the project nearly fell through. Later, Xin’gang Village recommended the project to Shiqiao Village within the cluster, and it was successfully implemented.

Driven by Xin’gang Village, the baseball and rugby fields at the border of Shiqiao and Qian Shi villages were built—complementary industries within the cluster. High-level competitions attracted more visitors, villagers’ incomes increased.

By 2025, with the cluster as a driver, Liangzhu Street’s “Sports+” industry integration mode has attracted 9.01 million visitors, generating 301 million yuan in revenue, with year-on-year growth of 7.6% and 7.5%, respectively.

“From investment attraction and policy support perspectives, ‘clustering’ makes resource allocation more precise and efficient,” says Zhao Rui, Deputy Director of Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. “The moderate size of the cluster allows large projects that are difficult for a single village to undertake to be realized; compared to broad, scattered resource distribution, using the cluster as a unit to coordinate fiscal funds and public services is more targeted, helping form a development model of ‘appropriate scale, element concentration, and precise policies.’”

By 2025, Yangjia Mountain Cluster is expected to attract over 800,000 tourists and generate more than 150 million yuan in tourism income, with per capita net income of villagers exceeding 39,000 yuan.

Zuzengjian believes that regional clustering also helps solve unbalanced development. Adjacent to Huangni Lane, Hou Shigou Village once had weak industry and a fragile foundation, with its collective economy in debt. “Thanks to the overall planning of the cluster, strong villages support weaker ones, industries complement each other, governance is coordinated, and we are moving toward common prosperity,” he says.

Under unified planning, Hou Shigou, nestled by mountains and water, has become a hub for film and television production. Dirt roads have turned into fragrant film streets, old houses into studios, villagers into “stars,” and Hou Shigou has become an important stop on the cluster’s tourism route. Currently, the collective economic organization of Hou Shigou earns over 600,000 yuan annually, transforming from a “debt village” into a “net celebrity village.”

How does synergy come together?

Scientific delineation of clusters, strengthened coordination, and innovative thinking to break down “mental barriers”

Looking at Tieshan Street, with its 43 natural villages, why choose only 8 to form the Yangjia Mountain Cluster?

“Cluster construction must be based on in-depth research,” says Zhao Rui. “Why build a cluster, how to divide it, and what are the advantages of the location? These questions must be fully assessed to ensure scientific and feasible planning.”

“We invited a professional urban and rural planning firm, which spent over a month exploring every nook and cranny of the villages; we reviewed local chronicles to understand cultural and historical contexts; we also talked with village officials and villagers to gather opinions,” recalls Nie Heng, Director of the Livestock and Veterinary Development Center of Qingdao West Coast New Area Agriculture and Rural Bureau, who was responsible for the planning at that time. “After a thorough investigation, we had a clear understanding, and then drafted the Yangjia Mountain Cluster plan, including long-term and annual plans.”

“Geographically, these 8 villages are connected by mountains and water; over 90% of the villagers share the surname Yang; economically, most focus on cherry and chestnut planting, which can be linked to enhance regional tourism and promote agricultural product sales,” explains Zuzengjian.

By December 2025, 2,070 clusters at the provincial, municipal, and county levels have been initiated, covering over 18,000 administrative villages, nearly one-third of the province.

Is there a standard for cluster size?

“Through practice, we believe that a cluster composed of 6 to 10 villages is most appropriate. Too many, and resources are hard to concentrate; too few, and it’s difficult to form synergy,” says Zhao Rui. “But it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, in Laoshan District, Qingdao, more than ten villages are closely connected along the road and are ultimately grouped into one cluster. The key is to adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts and adapting to local conditions.”

Unlike the smaller Yangjia Mountain Cluster, in Suzhou, the Yangcheng Lake Rural Revitalization Collaborative Development Cluster, launched in 2024, spans three areas: Yangcheng Lake, Changshu City, and Kunshan City, involving 37 administrative villages (communities) and 265 natural villages. Recognized as a “Livable, Business-friendly, and Beautiful Rural Area” by Jiangsu Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, it is one of 40 such clusters in the province.

“Most of these villages are around Yangcheng Lake and produce Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, with highly similar industrial structures. We aim to develop the crab industry into a larger, stronger sector through clustering,” says Zhang Lisha, Deputy Director of Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Regional clustering inevitably crosses administrative boundaries. Due to differing demands, considerations, and long-standing habits, coordination is challenging.

In Yangjia Mountain, the street party committee has established a Yangjia Mountain Rural Revitalization Office to oversee overall planning. In the Liangzhu Street North Cluster, the street party committee promotes the formation of joint party committees in villages to coordinate efforts.

The scope of the Yangcheng Lake Cluster is broader—how to coordinate? The “Shayang Line,” connecting Changshu’s Shajiabang Town and Yangcheng Lake Town in Xiangcheng District, exemplifies the exploration.

Once a 6-meter-wide, pothole-filled road, the Shayang Line faced high resistance to upgrades. “Transforming cross-regional roads is difficult for towns; funding applications also require higher-level approval,” says Zhao Xuefeng, Deputy Mayor of Shajiabang Town.

Road improvements are just one aspect. To coordinate other projects within the cluster, Suzhou’s relevant authorities regularly schedule meetings, establish special groups for transportation and ecological environment projects, and coordinate departmental efforts to support development. To address funding issues, Suzhou has set up a key project database for the cluster, focusing resources on major projects. So far, nearly 3,700 rural construction and modern agriculture projects have been promoted.

“Through strong coordination and special group efforts, the Shayang Line upgrade has been efficiently completed, and now it’s a 12-meter-wide paved road,” Zhao Xuefeng states.

Breaking down administrative barriers and overcoming mental blocks is essential. The Yangcheng Lake Cluster has launched training programs for young officials from the three towns along the lake, rotating hosts among Yangcheng Lake Town, Shajiabang Town, and Bacheng Town in Kunshan, with the first session scheduled for 2025.

Bai Xinyue, a village official from Bacheng Town who joined just two years ago, participated in the 2025 training. The courses helped her see beyond her own village’s “one-acre-three-point land,” understanding the overall development of the cluster. After training, she and her peers visited different towns, traveling between fields and cultural tourism sites.

“‘Cluster’ is no longer just a concept on paper. I realize that development within a cluster cannot be simply added up; it must be united into a fist, forming a collective force,” Bai Xinyue says. “A regular communication mechanism has been established among the three towns, with pairing, resource sharing, and project linkage, which has reduced the costs of cross-regional coordination. The previously intimidating coordination problems are now much easier to handle.”

Changing officials’ mindsets and breaking down “mental walls” among residents are equally important.

“In the past, villages rarely interacted over the name of ‘Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs’—if you didn’t buy my crabs, I wouldn’t buy your seedlings,” admits crab farmer Xu Jiongqi from Yangcheng Lake Town. “It all stemmed from a narrow mindset; no one thought about how to jointly build the brand.”

To break down barriers, the Yangcheng Lake Cluster has established cross-regional platforms for industry cooperation, technology sharing, brand building, and channels, standardizing breeding, disease control, and quality evaluation to reduce disorderly competition and improve information exchange.

“Before, I thought my crabs were the best, but after talking with peers from other towns, I saw there was room for improvement,” Xu Jiongqi laughs. “Now, some of my crab seedlings come from Bacheng Town, and the results are good. They’re also interested in my ‘river shrimp co-culture’ technique, planning to try it this year.”

How is vitality unleashed?

Amplifying comparative advantages, strengthening interest ties, and continuously improving mechanisms

Clusters of neighboring villages often have similar resources and industries, leading to homogeneous competition. How to build advantages through cooperation?

“The key is to identify ‘strengths’ and amplify comparative advantages,” says Ma Tianqi, Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Wujiang District, Suzhou.

The Longyang area in Wujiang District borders Taihu Lake, with dense waterways, and is a well-preserved part of the “Jiangsu Wujiang Pond Agriculture System,” an important agricultural cultural heritage. It nurtures fishing, sericulture, and silk culture. Sociologist Fei Xiaotong’s “Jiangcun Economy” describes the “Jiangcun” in Qiudou Town within this area, adding rich cultural depth.

The cluster leverages “cultural branding,” dividing into cultural zones like Luogang and Yuge, allowing tourists to explore the interconnected waterways, experience mulberry leaf harvesting, and visit the Fei Xiaotong Jiangcun Memorial Hall.

“Within the cluster, villages focus on cultural themes, exploring their unique features, cultivating industries like Taihu water-town tourism, green circular agriculture, and research-based education, achieving ‘beauty in diversity’; inter-village industry linkage and resource sharing form a complementary ‘beauty of people’; ultimately, based on a common cultural foundation, they work together to develop a unique core competitiveness, moving toward ‘harmony in diversity,’” Ma Tianqi explains. In 2025, the Longyang Cluster is expected to host about 5.3 million visitors and generate approximately 870 million yuan in revenue, with growth rates of 6% and 24.3%, respectively.

Differentiated and characteristic development allows villages to have distinct roles in the industrial chain. How to ensure benefit sharing is equally important.

“Ensuring farmers benefit fully and participate effectively is the starting point and foundation of cluster-driven rural revitalization,” says Hou Fengyun, Professor at Shandong University’s School of Economics. “Mobilizing farmers from passive observers to active participants requires establishing close benefit linkage mechanisms.”

In response, the Yangjia Mountain Cluster established a “Strong Village Shared Prosperity Company,” where villagers contribute land rights and idle houses as equity shares in the collective. The collective then invests these resources into the company, with each of the 8 villages holding an eighth of the shares, enabling cross-village resource coordination and large-scale operation.

For example, in cherry planting, Yang Yuzhi, a farmer from Huangni Lane, used to fear cherries flooding the market—selling at two or three yuan per jin when cheap. Now, he only manages his 20 acres of cherries, and the village collective has signed an agreement with the “Strong Village Shared Prosperity Company” for unified purchase. The company collaborates with other enterprises to process cherries into cherry wine and cherry beer, earning higher profits than selling fresh fruit.

Yang Yuzhi recalls that when the company was first established, everyone was skeptical. He only invested two acres. During the 2023 harvest, the company’s trucks came to buy his 1,000 jin of cherries at a guaranteed minimum of 10 yuan per jin, with payment made on the spot.

“Now I feel more secure. Later, I signed agreements for all 20 acres with the village,” he says excitedly. “At the end of the year, the village distributed dividends.”

The profits are also used to improve public services and village development. Today, three village clinics, two elderly care canteens, and one kindergarten have been upgraded; road paving and sewage treatment rates have reached 100%.

Villagers’ lives are getting better and better. “If I don’t want to cook at noon, I just go to the elderly care canteen for a meal. The village’s public toilets and fitness equipment have also been adapted for the elderly,” Yang Yuzhi says. “Everyone’s support for the cluster’s development has grown stronger.”

“To prevent a single cluster from becoming a ‘scenic spot,’ we also strengthen integrated operation among different clusters,” introduces Peng Shanliang, Director of Qingdao West Coast New Area Agriculture and Rural Bureau. “For example, we integrate resources from Yangjia Mountain Cluster and neighboring Zhangjialou Street Huameidani Cluster to enrich tourism routes and expand scale benefits.”

By 2025, Qingdao West Coast New Area will implement an integrated operation plan for rural revitalization clusters, jointly establishing a district-level operation company with state-owned and private enterprises, creating a “district-town-village” three-level linkage platform. This will focus on benefit sharing, festival coordination, and other aspects to promote 13 clusters’ integrated operation.

Traveling across these places, reporters see that regional clustering for rural revitalization has made promising progress but still faces many challenges.

“Rural areas lack advantages in development space and income, making it hard to attract professional talents who understand market operations,” says Zuzengjian. “Yangjia Mountain Cluster is exploring ‘external introduction and internal cultivation’: externally, providing low-rent or rent-free entrepreneurial spaces and subsidies; internally, organizing experts to pair with local talents to cultivate backbone personnel.”

“Some places have arbitrary cluster divisions without systematic planning or overall coordination,” suggests Jiao Litao, Associate Professor at Shandong University’s School of Marxism. “It’s necessary to strengthen guidance on different types of clusters, establish dynamic adjustment mechanisms, and allow timely optimization or reorganization of underperforming or long-stagnant clusters, adhering to problem-oriented approaches to ensure sustainable development.”