From industrial hub to lifestyle destination-how Guangxi’s flower basin is cultivating more than just plants.

November 21, 2025 | GUILIN

When Anliwen, an Italian exchange student, first arrived at the Diecai Flower Base in Guilin, she expected rows of blossoms and the scent of soil. What she didn't expect was to walk into a living example of how rural China is reinventing itself-not through factories, but through petals.

Nestled in the karst-rich landscapes of Guangxi, Diecai is one of the region's largest flower and seedling hubs. Once focused on supplying plants for urban landscaping, it has blossomed into a multi-purpose destination combining agriculture, tourism, and lifestyle education.

From Seedlings to Experiences

“It's not just a nursery-it's a classroom without walls,” says Anliwen, marveling at fields of orchids, chrysanthemums, and ornamental shrubs. Visitors can now pot their own plants, attend floral arrangement workshops, or simply stroll through seasonal bloom displays.

This shift from wholesale grower to experiential destination mirrors broader changes in rural Guangxi, where agritourism and “horticultural wellness” are becoming key parts of local economic strategy.

A New Kind of Green Growth

Local officials highlight the dual impact: while flower sales remain strong, tourism revenue and brand visibility are growing steadily. “We're cultivating beauty-and jobs,” says Liang Mei, a base manager. “Young people who once left for city work are returning to join family-run flower shops or guide tour groups.”

For Anliwen, the visit struck a personal chord. “In Italy, we have our flower markets and garden culture. Here, I see something similar but on a different scale-entire villages organizing around beauty,” she reflects. “It's inspiring to see tradition and modernity growing side by side.”

Blooming Ahead

As Guangxi continues to position itself as a green region, flower bases like Diecai are becoming test beds for sustainable tourism and light industry. For international students like Anliwen, they offer more than a photo opportunity-they provide a tangible look at China's quieter, greener forms of development.

“You hear so much about megacities and tech,” she says. “But here, growth feels gentle, rooted in the land. That's a story worth sharing.”

Source: Xinhua News Agency