In the mountainous villages of Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, a group of young people have left big cities and come to rural areas, leveraging their professional skills to develop new industries and models that drive rural development.

Dai Chao, born in the 1990s, once worked at an international investment firm in Beijing. In 2019, drawn by Chengdu's serene environment, slower pace of life, and favorable policies, he decided to resign and pursue rural entrepreneurship. He took over six idle village houses, transformed them into homestays, and hired local villagers, boosting both local employment and rural tourism. Later, Dai and his team focused on innovating agricultural products, blending local garlic with coffee — a favorite among young people — to create "garlic coffee." They now sell over 200 cups daily, with annual sales exceeding 70,000 cups, making it a hit beverage. Looking ahead, Dai plans to launch more innovative products combining crops with coffee, such as rice coffee and kale coffee, further refining the brand positioning of local agricultural specialties.

Today, rural entrepreneurship in China is a hot topic among young people, as rural areas usually offer low-cost, efficient ways to start a business, including support for housing, communal dining, and workspace. Meanwhile, Chengdu continues to upgrade its talent policies and encourage more young talent to pursue careers and businesses in western areas of China. #2025ChinaAgenda #PeopleFirst