Zhang Qin, a "leading talent in modern agriculture" of Changsha (capital of Central China's Hunan Province), was born in 1987. She is a native of Huitang, a town known for its hot-spring resources in Ningxiang, a city in Hunan. "My childhood was nourished by the warm spring water in Huitang. My passion to participate in rural revitalization was ignited in my hometown," Zhang has been quoted as saying many times.
In 2016, Zhang returned to Huitang from Singapore. When she was an overseas student, Zhang was impressed by a question asked by a professor: "Why does China's countryside attract so many talents, especially those who have returned to your country from overseas?" It may have taken years, but Zhang eventually found the answer to that question, in the eco-friendly farming system developed by her farm in Huitang.
Nine years ago, Zhang took charge of her family's farm, which had previously been operated by her relatives from her father's generation. Zhang transformed the farm, named Golden Sun, into a modern farming company, which integrates Huitang's hot-spring resources with an eco-friendly farm, and which provides accommodations and catering, leisure and entertainment services.
"On our farm, ducks are raised in the warm water recycled from the local hot spring. We develop and sell eco-friendly agricultural products, and we use herb-made dyes to produce silk," Zhang explains. Utilizing resources from nature to create wealth is an effective way to practice the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," she adds.
Visitors to the farm can enjoy the hot spring, try camping, and participate in various farm-related activities. The farm provides diverse programs, including planting vegetables and/or fruits, breeding poultry and processing agricultural products. It also offers various hot-spring-leisure activities, outdoor-training sessions, and farm work for children and teenagers.
During the past nine years, Zhang has often been moved by the diligence, tenacity, empathy and strength shown by the rural women with whom she has worked. More than 30 of those women were trained in hosting and video production, so they could form a team of livestreaming anchors. "Most of the anchors are mothers from our local, rural households. We have an auntie, surnamed Xie, who once brought sample products to our room for a livestreaming show — on a heavily raining day. Xie said farmers can endure hardships, and they cherish every opportunity to sell their products. Our livestreaming activities have helped the women increase their incomes," Zhang says.
In March, a "peach-blossom cultural festival" was held in Huitang. Golden Sun Farm established a dance team of women to participate in the town's first dance competition among neighboring villages. To encourage the women, Zhang invited a teacher, from a professional dance troupe, to coach the farm's dance team. The teacher choreographed a dance, "Smiling with Peach Blossoms." The team won third prize. "When our women dancers were holding the prize cup, they cheered happily and won loud applause," Zhang recalls.
Women can give full play to their advantages when they participate in the advancement of rural industries, the rural economy, and the construction of the countryside, Zhang says. For instance, women generally take greater consideration of children's perspectives when they design a route for children and their parents to pick fruits and vegetables on the farm.
Also, women are generally willing to help each other earn a better living. "We have some women who are good at cooking, but who don't know how to sell their homemade food," Zhang says. "We help them improve the packaging and sell their food in big cities across our country. The ‘tastes created by Moms' have become a popular brand we are promoting on the Internet."
As a woman who manages a farm, Zhang cares much about women's employment and entrepreneurship, especially in the countryside. She established a team of supervisors, to provide advice to women in her hometown, so the women can adapt to the integrated development among various industries.
"Rural revitalization requires the participation of more and more young people. We must work earnestly, and with a down-to-earth attitude. Meanwhile, we need to keep our minds open, so we accept innovative approaches. I want to help rural women pass on a happy life, through their soft, yet solid, power. We help farmers boost agricultural production and increase their incomes. In particular, we help women shine during their participation in rural revitalization," Zhang concludes.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly August 2025)
Editor: Wang Shasha
