Flower grower shares his success to help villagers beat poverty

Dong Yuan, 29, from Luchun village in Zibo, Shandong province, has sacrificed a great deal to become a successful rose grower. In 2016, the college graduate returned to his hometown to start his flower business.

He used the money he had set aside to buy an apartment to launch his business. Dong kept his costs down by living in a greenhouse as he studied flower growing and the prevention and control of plant diseases and pests.

Specializing in the production of roses, he traveled around the country and tried various kinds of online marketing platforms. His beautiful roses eventually became well-known and he now has customers scattered around the country.

Dong has been generous about his success and shares his marketing channels with fellow villagers to help them out of poverty.

From left: Dong Yuan (front) and his employees put covers on rose buds in one of his greenhouses at Luchun village in Zibo, Shandong province, on April 28. Dong takes care of his roses on Dec 11. Dong (right) and his workers sort the cut roses on May 1 before they are sold. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Dong (second from left) and his employees work in a greenhouse on Dec 5. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

The young entrepreneur packs bundles of roses into boxes on April 28 for delivery to other parts of the country. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Dong and his mother eat lunch together in a greenhouse on April 28. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Dong and his workers move cut roses out of a greenhouse. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Dong and his employees cover the roof of a greenhouse with plastic sheeting on Dec 11. ZHAO DONGSHAN/FOR CHINA DAILY