Qingdao city in Shandong province sees a robust growth in its rural characteristic industries and forms a new pattern of integrated urban-rural development. [Photo/Qingdao News]

Qingdao city in Shandong province has seen a robust growth in its rural characteristic industries and formed a new pattern of integrated urban-rural development.  

It has created two vital industrial clusters in agricultural product processing and animal husbandry, eight advantageous industrial chains for oil crops, fruits and vegetables and livestock feed, as well as 15 characteristic industrial chains for blueberries, tea leaves, grapes and more.

Qingdao has been using project construction as the key driver of high-quality development of rural industries. The town of Yifengdian in Jimo district, Qingdao has introduced 23 modern seed industrial chain projects, including Rijk Zwaan from the Netherlands.

Qingdao uses project construction as the key driver of high-quality development of rural industries. [Photo/Qingdao News]

The area now has a seed production capacity of more than 500 varieties of vegetables, and 170 seed varieties have been registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The area generates an annual sales revenue of 600 million yuan ($84.27 million).

Characteristic industries

Jingu village in Qingdao West Coast New Area has formed a blueberry industry agglomeration zone with over 130 blueberry enterprises and more than 60 cooperatives.  

Qingdao West Coast New Area has a booming blueberry industry. [Photo/WeChat account: qdxihaianfabu]

Laoshan district has been focusing on increasing the incomes of tea farmers. Xishan village, for example, has more than 20 hectares of tea plantations that account for 92 percent of the total arable land.  

In Pingdu, the false eyelash industry has been a significant source of income for local villages. Presently, 70 percent of the world's false eyelashes are produced here.  

Over the next two years, Qingdao will construct 80 agricultural projects with a total planned investment of 68.8 billion yuan.