'New peasants' return home to relax, prosper in villages

Son of the soil

Like Liang and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Shao Qiankuan quit his job as an aviation security officer in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and now works on a 300-mu (20 hectare) farm in the suburbs of Hangzhou.

Unlike the couple, Shao is familiar with agricultural life as his family has a farm in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province.

"My former job, which I did for about six years, was very stable and paid me well," he said.

"However, I gained nothing new. I had considered quitting for a long time and discussed it with my parents. Thankfully, they supported me."

He worked for free for experienced farmers to acquire their agricultural knowledge. After learning the basics of farming, he rented land with a few like-minded friends where they mainly grow rice and corn.

"Each day is different and I feel that every day over the past two years I have made progress," said Shao, adding that farm work has helped him to master other skills, such as tractor repairs and fighting floods during the rainy season.

"My day starts early in the morning with sowing seeds and tending to crops. After working on the farm for the whole day I edit my videos, which I share on social media platforms. My life has been enriched," he said.

Shao said he has met many young people like himself who receive an education in a big city, but give up on urban life and return to the village. "It's a trend," he said.

One of his new friends is Ren Yin, 27, who owns a coffee shop in Hongcun village located near Jingshan Temple. The temple was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and is located about 60 kilometers from Hangzhou.

As village entrepreneurs, the pair exchange ideas, help each other out and navigate challenges together.