The story of Huangjian Town, and it’s beautiful wetlands.
“Walked by that little river,
Have you ever heard tell,
Of a girl who once came here,
Left a story to dwell?
Crossed this reed-covered slope,
Have you ever been told,
Of a girl who left behind,
A song brave and bold?”
This famous song, ‘A True Story’, has touched hearts across China, telling of Xu Xiujun, who gave her life to protect the cranes in the wetlands 30 years ago.
This touching story took place in Huangjian Town！
Known for its vibrant cranes, Huangjian’s natural beauty is renowned far and wide. Located in the eastern part of Yancheng’s Tinghu District, Huangjian offers a picturesque environment with diverse landscapes, blending cranes, sea, salt flats, and forests. The area is celebrated as a winter sanctuary for cranes, a World Heritage Site, a historical fishing village, and a land where natural beauty meets coastal charm.
In recent years, Huangjian Town has always insisted on and thought about the exploration and integration of ecological beauty and humanistic beauty, centering on scientific and sustainable development. Actively play the brand advantage of the YellowSea and Bohai Sea World Natural Heritage Site, deeply decode the cultural genes of cranes, sea, salt, and forests, and fully explore the aesthetic economy, amplify the brand image of “World Heritage Site, Living with Beauty”, and play a good combination of “ecology + culture”. Vigorously promote the “five qualities” of ecological defenders, sea salt farmers, forest farm Yugong, land reclamation fighters, and pioneers of beauty creation, send out the “Voice of the Oriental Wetland” of ecological protection to the world, and realize the two-way rush of ecological beauty and humanistic beauty. In the realization of rural revitalization, the prelude to the construction of “showy” Huangjian is unveiled!
Telling “A True Story”!
Adhere to the inheritance and continuation of Xu Xiujuan’s humanistic spirit, and polish the beautiful ecological background of Huangjian! In January 2024, a three-dimensional floral installation titled *A True Story* was completed near the crane reserve. Inspired by an award-winning Canadian work from 2013, the design embodies the theme of “Return” reimagined to reflect local artistry. Through this installation, Huangjian showcases its dedication to ecological conservation and sustainable development. Let a true story return to the magnificent land of Huangjian. The installation is not only a symbol of returning migratory birds and cherished memories, but also of the resurgence of ecological civilization.
Cultivating a “World Heritage-Featured Card”!
Huangjian Town is aiming to become the “preferred destination for international wetland tourism”, highlighting the functional positioning of “the core area of the world natural heritage and the exquisite coastal ecological section of 100 miles”, and actively expanding the influence of the world natural heritage and the most beautiful ecological business cards such as cranes, sea, salt and forests. Together with the Aranya team, we will link the business elements of spiritual architecture, land art, art community, aesthetic life, etc., focus on breakthroughs in the six key points of scene selection, design, service, activities, community and communication, and compile the development plan of the ecological wetland tourism resort from a high starting point, expand and strengthen the four major theme sections of world heritage experience, forest health care, leisure and vacation, and comprehensive reception. By coordinating carriers like the Red-crowned Crane Reserve Avian Museum, the new Yanggang World Heritage Study Camp, and the academician’s workstation at Yancheng Forest Farm, the town conducts a series of study tours on wetlands, birds, and environmental protection, accelerating co-construction and integrated development with the Red-crowned Crane Reserve, and fostering a world where visitors “return often, reminisce often, and find new experiences with each visit.”
Exploring a Path for Cultural Empowerment!
Amplifying the empowering effect of the “crane hometown cultural heritage +”. On the path of ecological, artistic, and cultural-tourism industry construction, which upholds the triple-line approach of ecological “high aesthetics,” artistic “high quality,” and economic “high value,” the town inherits the crane hometown cultural heritage and develops wetland tourism.
Continuously doing well in the “second half” of ecological benefit conversion. Adhering to the principles of “cultural and tourism integration, unity of art and scenery, shared living and travel,” the town fully leverages its rich natural resources, beautiful ecological environment, and advantages of being experiential and practical, vigorously promoting cultural-tourism sightseeing tours, agritainment art tours, romantic flower viewing tours, health and wellness tours, and student study tours, continuously enriching the tourism industry. Meanwhile, to enhance international wetland diversity cultural exchanges and highlight the ecological and humanistic charm of the core area of the world natural heritage site, Huangjian Town optimizes the functional layout of the town, striving to create a demonstration point for China’s ecological civilization story with international influence, an internationally renowned cultural tourism destination, and an artistic sanctuary that is internationalized, high-end, and artistic.
Fostering a Distinctive Local Industry for Enriching the People!
The people of Huangjian cherish chrysanthemums, whose delicate beauty parallels the elegance of the dancing cranes. From loving chrysanthemums to growing them, under the leadership of the party committee, the people of Huangjian have poured their hearts into this endeavor. Through introduction, selection, and promotion, the foundation has been solidified. Since 2021, Huangjian chrysanthemums have been granted Geographical Indication status by China’s Ministry of Agriculture, and in 2022, they joined the provincial Geographic Indication Agricultural Products Protection Program. The town plants more than 40,000 acres of Chinese medicinal herbs annually, of which chrysanthemums account for about 30,000 acres.
Promoting the “Huangjian Chrysanthemum” brand and extending the industrial chain. Establishing an “base + farmer + cooperative” operation model, building online and offline sales platforms and networks, achieving “production, processing, and sales” integration for chrysanthemum production. Collaborating with China Medical University and Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a “research, education, and production” consortium for chrysanthemums has been established, developing a series of chrysanthemum products. Leveraging the “Huangjian Chrysanthemum” brand advantage, the leading role of the “Zhi Shen Tang” chrysanthemum trading center, and the cultural advantages of the art village and TCM health care hall, the town hosts the Chrysanthemum Arts Festival at a high level, creating a leading industry that integrates agriculture, culture, and tourism. “We adhere to cultivating the chrysanthemum cultural brand, forming a unique chrysanthemum economic form, deeply developing chrysanthemum tea, medicinal cuisine products, achieving diversified development, and creating a colorful industry,” said the person in charge of Zhi Shen Tang Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.
Huangjian chrysanthemums are now sold nationwide and even internationally. Collaborations with major brands such as Wanglaoji Health Industry, C’estbon, JDB, and ZHENG QI HE have brought economic growth, providing jobs for 200 residents and raising local villagers’ incomes by 5 million yuan.
Paving the Road to Rural Revitalization
Accelerating rural revitalization through industrial revitalization. Relying on distinctive resources, Huangjian Town cultivates a new pattern of “one village, one specialty.” Leveraging natural endowments and uncovering the essence of villages (residences), the town strengthens the collective economy of each village, ensuring that all 10 villages (residences) have projects and enterprises, and every household and individual in the village has a business.
At the Helong Farm, a large number of modern characteristic family farms have emerged, turning landscapes into industries and beauty into productivity.
“We regularly hold grape and autumn moon pear picking events, allowing visitors to experience the sweetness and joy of different fruits throughout the seasons. These activities add bright colors to the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, achieving a win-win between agriculture and tourism,” said the person in charge of Helong Farm.
Highlighting the cultural industry for enriching the people. Continuously leveraging the “world heritage” brand effect, represented by the “Intertidal Art Village” and “Renhe Ecological Rice” two leading projects, Xingnong Village uses the Intertidal Art Village as a carrier, adhering to the “three-pronged approach” of culture, tourism, and characteristic agriculture, to create a base integrating cultural creativity, exhibitions, meetings, auctions, studies, and agriculture. Through art exhibitions and auctions, the operation of homestays, and the management of a thousand-acre modern agricultural park, the annual income of the village collective exceeds 2 million yuan.
“We aim for high-end, artistic, and international standards, actively converting the value of ecological resource endowments, persistently conducting ecological protection, nurturing a green engine. Utilizing the advantages of the core sector, we specialize in beautiful countryside, art, tourism, and tertiary services, injecting strong momentum into rural revitalization, making the ecological base color of Tinghu District brighter, and paving a sunny road for Huangjian Town’s international route,” said Yu Sinong, Party Secretary of Huangjian Town.
Article written by Peng Zhaohui and Cheng Quan.
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