Story of Xichou (3): Land of lucid waters and lush mountains

Faced with severe stony desertification, the people in Xichou have deep understandings of the philosophy of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”.

Starting from the first attempt in Muzhe Village in 1990, they have never stopped fighting against the difficult living conditions. They have created a successful model in the comprehensive treatment of rocky desertification, turning the land into a green ecological home.

Entering the demonstration area of the Improvement Project of Medium- and Low-yielding Farmlands in Banggu Township, we were surprised by the eye-catching views. The roads are linked as nets and the pools are connected.    

Eight years ago, this rocky desertification area began to revive. Local people picked up electric drills, drove excavators and shouldered carrying poles, turning the 897.8 acres dry land into fertile land.

“Our family had 0.66 acres of barren land. After the improvement, we turned it into a terraced land of more than 60 acres," Li Youneng, a local villager said happily when talking about the benefits of the comprehensive treatment of rocky desertification.

According to statistics, Xichou has treated more than 140 square kilometers of rocky desertification and built more than 16,474 acres of terraced fields.

Editor: John Li