A view of Mingyangxin village in Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province [Photo/iqilu.com]

Mingyangxin, a remote village in Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province, has paved its way to prosperity by growing fruit trees on mountains.

Niu Gangqi, Party chief of the village, encouraged locals to develop the mountains by planting apples, pears, cherries, and apricots. The planting area now covers more than 150 mu (10 hectares).

The apple orchard is located in the shade of the mountain, where the temperature difference between day and night is large. Due to this factor and irrigation from natural spring water, the apples grown here are crispier and sweeter.

Villagers show ripen apples at an orchard in Mingyangxin village. [Photo/iqilu.com]

The income of the village is expected to exceed 500,000 yuan ($78,285.24) this year, according to Niu. The village has invested 160 million yuan in building a pastoral complex to develop tourism centered on the natural landscape and fruit picking.

In addition, efforts have been made to improve the village's living environment. The village has invested 9 million yuan to upgrade 5,950 square meters of roads, set up 3,000 square meters of green landscape, install 50 lamps and improve the environment alongside the rivers.