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Goji berries, wineries and clean energy propel rapid development in region
Goji berry, also known as wolfberry, has nurtured one of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region's nine pillar industries. Last year, the comprehensive output value of the ubiquitous fruit in the region reached 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion).
Goji has been a primary ingredient in traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese medicines for thousands of years, and products derived from the fruit are common worldwide as health foods or alternative medicine remedies.
On the east side of National Highway 110 and about 5 kilometers north of Zhenbeipu West Film City in Yinchuan, Ningxia's capital city, a goji berry town is set to open to the public later this year.
Started in 2010, the plantation has blossomed into a modern farm, incorporating water-saving drip irrigation technology instead of relying on traditional flood methods. Drones have also been introduced to protect the berries from disease and pests.
"It's not only a goji plantation, but also a place where people can pick and eat the berries. It's a place all about goji culture," said Hao Xiangfeng, a national model worker and chairman of Ningxia Berylgoji, which is in charge of developing the town.
When it reaches full operation, the town is projected to generate an output value of 70 million yuan in two years and create more jobs for its residents.
Ningxia's goji berries account for 55 percent of China's total output. By 2025, the total goji plantation area in the region is expected to reach about 46,000 hectares, the output of the fruit will reach 700,000 metric tons and the comprehensive output value will eclipse 50 billion yuan.
Cranes roost at a wetland in Ningxia [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Meanwhile, Ningxia's wine industry has also grown rapidly in the past decade.
Its first winery was constructed in 1984, and today the region has more than 200 that produce around 130 million bottles a year for an industry valued at 26.1 billion yuan.
In June last year, China set up its first comprehensive experimental zone for the development and opening up of the wine and grape industries in Ningxia, aimed at expanding the region's annual production volume to 300 million bottles and a value of 100 billion yuan by 2025.
The region is also integrating boutique tourism with the wine industry.