Shanxi Kelan: Vitalizing Rural Revitalization with Integrated Development
KELAN, Shanxi, April 1 — For Wang Fuping, a villager in Kelan County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, the endogenous driving force for development lies in the hope of switching his income source to tourism. For Ding Liangjun, who returned to his hometown from a big city, it is the confidence to increase income steadily by relying on local resources. For Sun Lifang, it is the sense of belonging brought by better roads, greener environment and more convenient life.
Guided by the central No.1 Document this year, which emphasizes deepening the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism, fostering county-level prosperity industries and adhering to urban-rural integrated development, Kelan County has been painting a new picture of rural revitalization through various initiatives in recent years, according to China News Service.
The integration of agriculture, culture and tourism has consolidated the income foundation for local villagers. "I used to earn a living by doing odd jobs, but now I have a fixed income and no longer need to rush around for work," said Wang Fuping from Wangjiacha Village, Songjiagou Town. Located 22 kilometers from the county seat, the village boasts unique Song Dynasty Great Wall resources and the natural scenery of Heye Ping Mountain, Zhao Lisheng, Deputy County Magistrate and Director of the County Agriculture, Rural Areas and Water Conservancy Bureau, explained.
"Over the past three years, surrounding villages have attracted numerous tourists from nearby cities and other regions by developing leisure and sightseeing agriculture, boosting both village collective income and farmers’ earnings," Zhao added. Data shows that in 2025, Kelan County received about 350,000 tourists, achieved a total tourism income of 60 million yuan, helped 320 households secure tourism-related jobs, with an average increase of over 1,000 yuan per person.
The integration of industry and employment has made farmers’ lives more prosperous. In May 2020, Ding Liangjun from Mapaoquan Village returned to his hometown and joined Shanxi Songjiagou Functional Food Co., Ltd., a leading seabuckthorn processing enterprise. "With my management experience, I was promoted to factory director in 2023, with a monthly salary of 6,000 yuan," Ding said, noting that working in his hometown is more cost-effective than in big cities.
Statistics indicate that in 2025, leading seabuckthorn enterprises in Kelan drove over 4,000 households to harvest seabuckthorn, with an average increase of 3,500 yuan per household. "Employment is an important guarantee for rural residents’ income growth," said Liu Huiping, County Magistrate of Kelan.
Urban-rural integration has brought prosperity to rural areas. "The changes in the village over the past few years are remarkable — wider roads, more trees, better environment and more convenient life," Sun Lifang from Sanjing Village praised. Wang Lei, Member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee, Director of the Publicity Department and Deputy County Magistrate, stated that by 2025, the county had built 4 high-quality model villages and 40 upgraded villages, with all rural roads, passenger transport, electricity and internet accessible.
With its unique historical and natural resources, Kelan has explored a path of rural revitalization through integrated development, enabling local farmers to earn more and injecting strong momentum into the county’s sustainable development. The county’s seabuckthorn industry has formed a complete industrial chain, and its tourism sector continues to thrive, bringing tangible benefits to the people.
