Qin Zhizhang: From Veteran to "Plum Blossom King"

Plum blossoms cultivated at Qin Zhizhang's plum blossom base.

The fruit borne by the plum blossom tree.

Qin Zhizhang explaining the plum blossom cultivation process to media reporters.

Media reporters interviewing at Qin Zhizhang's plum blossom base.

"Wind and rain send spring home, flying snow welcomes spring's arrival. Already a hundred zhang of ice on the cliff, yet there are still blooming branches so fair. Fair, yet not competing with spring, only announcing spring's return. When the mountain flowers bloom in full glory, she smiles among them." Qin Zhizhang, a farmer from Hengjian Village, Hengjian Township, Lushi County, Henan, known as the "Plum Blossom King," recited this poem "Bu Suan Zi - Ode to the Plum Blossom" without hesitation when talking about his original intention for researching and cultivating plum blossoms.

Qin Zhizhang, now 73 years old, was once a soldier who served 6 years in the border regions. After being transferred to civilian work, he was appointed Party branch secretary of Hengjian Brigade (now Hengjian Village). Since 1983, Qin Zhizhang no longer served as Party branch secretary of Hengjian Village, determined to "take advantage of good policies, first blaze a trail to prosperity, then lead the masses to prosper together."

Wanting to get rich, where to start? Qin Zhizhang was at a loss for a while. "Having served 6 years as a soldier in the border regions, I liked the poem 'Bu Suan Zi - Ode to the Plum Blossom' the most, and I deeply fell in love with plum blossoms." Qin Zhizhang, who knew almost nothing about plum blossom cultivation techniques, threw himself into it with pure enthusiasm, not only solving multiple industry challenges such as "moving southern plums to the north," but also contracting large areas of land to cultivate plum blossoms.

It is understood that Qin Zhizhang's plum blossom base has now reached 500 mu, with an annual output of 260 varieties and more than 10,000 potted plum blossoms, and more than 500,000 finished and semi-finished plum blossom seedlings, driving more than 60 farming households to grow plum blossoms and providing employment for more than 100 idle laborers.