Young entrepreneurs boost rural revitalization in Jiaxing, China’s Zhejiang

Zhu Jun (1st L), head of a shared vegetable garden, leads visitors to experience agricultural work in a field in Fengqiao Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Zhu Xiaodong (R) introduces design concept of tiles at a workshop in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Zhu Xiaodong (R) designs tiles at a workshop in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shen Feng (L) makes steamed buns at a store in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The steamed bun shop customizes buns in various styles and flavors according to customer orders, with online sales as the primary channel. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows a bakery garden in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province. The site attracts many visitors with its innovative integration of coffee and rural landscape, offering a unique leisure experience. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Citizens rest at a bakery garden in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The site attracts many visitors with its innovative integration of coffee and rural landscape, offering a unique leisure experience. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Citizens rest at a bakery garden in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The site attracts many visitors with its innovative integration of coffee and rural landscape, offering a unique leisure experience. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Jin Wenkai (C), a graduate of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, leads a farmers’ harvest drum team in rehearsal to prepare for a performance at a music school in Fengqiao Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shen Feng arranges steamed buns at a store in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The steamed bun shop customizes buns in various styles and flavors according to customer orders, with online sales as the primary channel. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has been providing policy support, platform building, and industry incubation for returning young entrepreneurs, along with low-cost startup spaces, attracting hundreds of young people to start businesses in their hometown.

These young entrepreneurs, equipped with internet thinking, modern business logic, and innovative business models, have transformed fields and farmhouses into cultural and tourism offerings. They have introduced trendy elements such as art markets, kiln-baked bread, rural cafes, pet socializing, and educational workshops into the countryside, helping villagers promote and sell specialty agricultural products and boosting local incomes. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20260409/534b0494b50c446694311306193a30b5/c.html

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…

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