Salima Sultan checks the growth of flowers at her home in Qianjin Village of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Blooming flower economy turned Qianjin Village into a place of idyllic beauty and increased the income of locals in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang

KASHGAR, Aug. 28, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Dwellings surrounded by fragrant blossom in profusion, well-arranged houses and alleys of a neat appearance, sundry trees lining along the streets where children enjoy themselves, the pastoral scene can be seen everywhere in Qianjin Village.

The Idyllic beauty in Qianjin Village derives from its booming flower economy, in which Salima Sultan is a pioneer.

Salima, a 60-year-old villager, developed the fondness of flowers since young and turned flower cultivation into an important source to improve her livelihood.

In early 2018, a working team at the grassroots level for improving people's wellbeing launched a project in Qianjin Village to help villagers boost their income by offering free flowerpots and seeds and contacting florists. With the help of team members and her children, Salima started to run the courtyard business and has now planted over 1,000 pots of flowers, attracting many wholesalers to purchase during holidays. Last year, Salima's family was awarded as a model household in building beautiful courtyards by local authorities.

The courtyard economy now serves as an important channel for local villagers to enhance their income, with about 60 households involved. The annual income of each household who planted flowers increases by 5,000 yuan (about 698 U.S. dollars) to 18,000 yuan (about 2,514 U.S. dollars). Like Salima, more villagers are joining in to build the flower economy and endow the village with vitality.

Salima Sultan (R) and her daughter Mihrigvl Rixat see a florist out in front of their home at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Children water flowers in an alley at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Salima Sultan checks the growth of flowers at home in Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Salima Sultan (R) and her daughter Mihrigvl Rixat water the flowers in front of their home at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

A child helps Salima Sultan load a pot of flowers onto a vehicle at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Mihrigvl Rixat, daughter of Salima Sultan, dresses up herself at home in Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Xiang Hong (2nd L) and Ripkat Mamat (1st R) from a working team visit Salima Sultan (C) to learn about flower cultivation at Salima's home in Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

Children have fun in an alley at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

A florist (R) loads potted flowers onto a vehicle accompanied by Mihrigvl Rixat, daughter of Salima Sultan, in front of her home at Qianjin Village in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)