Taizhou advances rural vitalization

Taizhou has made rural vitalization a central pillar of its development agenda over the past five years, reshaping agriculture, upgrading villages, and steadily raising farmers' incomes.

A key shift has been the transformation of agriculture from primary production to a full value-chain model. By 2024, the city's agricultural value chain had reached 160 billion yuan ($22.89 billion).

Xinghua, long known as a land of fish and rice, offers a clear example. By promoting eco-friendly farming and contract-based production, the city has strengthened agricultural brands and increased farmers' earnings. Making full use of its dense waterways, Xinghua has built a complete industrial chain around river crabs and crayfish — from seed breeding and ecological farming to deep processing and brand marketing.

Across Taizhou, efforts have focused on nurturing leading agrifood companies and encouraging industrial clustering in dedicated parks. Traditional local specialties such as Jingjiang dried meat and Huangqiao sesame cakes have found new life through standardized production, technological upgrades and e-commerce, scaling up while retaining their regional identity.

Meanwhile, modern agricultural demonstration parks, including one in Hailing district, have introduced smart greenhouses and soilless cultivation to develop premium fruits, vegetables, flowers and seedlings.

Rural tourism has also become a powerful driver. By tapping into local culture and natural landscapes, Taizhou has turned villages into destinations. Events such as the Qinhuai Boat Festival in Jiangyan, the Xinghua Rapeseed Flower Festival and the Taixing Ginkgo Art Festival have grown into well-known cultural brands.

Alongside industrial growth, living conditions in the countryside have seen marked improvement. Toilet renovation, sewage treatment, waste sorting, and recycling have been rolled out together, turning once-neglected villages into clean, orderly, and distinctive rural communities.

Cultural life has flourished as well. Lectures, policy briefings, science outreach and community activities are now common in villages, while greater attention to heritage protection has revitalized ancient villages, historic buildings and traditional crafts.

Stronger village economies have translated into tangible benefits, enabling villages to invest more in education, healthcare, elderly care, and social services. As public facilities improve and social security coverage expands, rural residents are sharing more fully in development gains.

Official data show that during the past five years, rural disposable incomes in Taizhou have continued to grow at a pace among the fastest in Jiangsu province. In 2024, per capita disposable income for rural residents reached 33,959 yuan, up 6.8 percent year on year, further narrowing the urban-rural income gap.