On October 20, a celebration was held in Yichang, Hubei Province, to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County. The festivities also included a cultural performance to honor this milestone.
Located at the intersection of six counties in Hunan and Hubei provinces, Wufeng covers an area of 2,369 square kilometers and has a registered population of 190,400, with ethnic minorities making up 84.8% of the population. Known as one of China’s ancient tea-producing regions, Wufeng has earned the title of “Hometown of Famous Chinese Tea.” The county was established in 1984.
Over the past 40 years, Wufeng has seen remarkable economic growth, with its GDP, public budget revenue, and rural residents’ income increasing by 168 times, 322 times, and 44 times, respectively. In recent years, the county has successfully accomplished major initiatives, including poverty alleviation, urban relocation, the establishment of off-site parks, significant transportation improvements, and ecological advancements.
In his speech, Li Lunhua, the Secretary of the Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County Committee, highlighted how the diverse peoples of Wufeng embody the spirit of “breaking new ground, battling adversity, and being practical,” which has driven the county’s historic achievements and a vibrant narrative of shared unity and prosperous development.
Recently, Wufeng has been actively promoting industries such as tea, bee farming, traditional Chinese medicine, and regional tourism, innovating within a “tea, culture, and tourism” integrated development model. By the end of 2023, the county boasts 220,000 acres of tea plantations, including 40,000 acres of old tea gardens, generating an output value of 1.219 billion yuan from tea alone.
Xiao Shuguang, the leader of the Shuguang Rural Revitalization Innovation Studio in Yichang, reflected on his four years of service in Hongqiping Village in Wufeng Bay. He expressed hope that the county will leverage its unique characteristics and advantages to further improve Wufeng in the future.
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