On the afternoon of October 25, Zhu Jian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hengyang Municipal Committee and Mayor of Hengyang, conducted patrols of forests, farmland, and rivers in Changning to investigate rural revitalization efforts on site. He emphasized the need to coordinate ecological protection with industrial development, strengthen the ecological barrier through targeted measures, and stimulate rural vitality through characteristic industries, so as to achieve mutual enhancement of ecological and livelihood benefits.

Zhu first visited Zhongkang Village in Guanling Town, known as the “eastern gateway” of the town. The village has developed sizable blueberry and Polygonatum odoratum (Solomon’s seal) industries, painting a vivid picture of the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. At the Polygonatum odoratum planting base in the Xinyuan Group, Zhu chatted warmly with local growers: “How many years have you been cultivating this crop? What’s the yield per mu? And how much does it sell for per kilogram now?” After learning about the industry details, he was briefed by the village committee and the support team on the overall situation. Zhu commended the village’s “three-sector integration” model driven by Polygonatum odoratum and blueberries.

Zhu stressed that rural industries should be developed step by step and with scientific planning, focusing on local specialties to refine and strengthen industrial layouts. He called for enhancing talent support by building a full-chain mechanism for talent introduction, cultivation, utilization, and retention. He also encouraged advancing industrial upgrading toward refined processing and brand operations, while deepening the “culture + wellness” connotation of rural tourism—turning these “plants of prosperity” and “fruits of wealth” into golden keys for rural revitalization and collective prosperity.

At Liujia Group of Tangwan Village in Yiyang Community, Zhu focused on key aspects of farmland and river management, visiting the 10,000-mu (about 6.67 km²) rapeseed demonstration base and the banks of the Yishui River. In the rapeseed fields, he inspected crop growth and inquired about planting scale, management techniques, and plans for processing and sales, while learning how agricultural policies are benefiting farmers and increasing their incomes. Along the Yishui River, he examined water quality, vegetation restoration, and flood prevention facilities, instructing responsible officials to strengthen daily maintenance and management.

Zhu emphasized the need to strictly prevent waste dumping into rivers and to carry out routine dredging, shoreline cleaning, and hazard inspections. He urged full implementation of the River Chief System to ensure accountability for river protection and to safeguard the ecological foundation of the Yishui River. He also stressed the importance of upholding the red line for farmland protection, focusing on soil improvement and infrastructure upgrades, and advancing high-standard farmland construction. Strengthening agricultural technical support, he said, will consolidate the foundation of grain production and foster a virtuous cycle of increased farmland productivity, improved ecology, and higher farmers’ incomes.

At Sanyuan Forest Farm in Shiyan Mountain Group, Tongshi Village, Baifang Town, Zhu inspected the implementation of ecological protection and safety control measures. As he walked through the area, he inquired about forest conservation, land planning, and management mechanisms, with particular attention to the establishment of a “human + technological” forest fire prevention system and patrol arrangements for key forest zones.

Zhu stressed that departments at all levels must fulfill their primary responsibility for ecological protection and implement forest patrol and protection measures in detail. He called for improving emergency response mechanisms, strengthening fire prevention facilities and personnel training, and firmly guarding the bottom line of forest fire safety. He also underlined the importance of prioritizing ecological conservation and promoting the sustainable use of forest resources to reinforce the regional ecological security barrier.

Liao Yizhi, Secretary-General of the Hengyang Municipal People’s Government, accompanied the inspection.

Translator: Jing