Hongshui village in Pingding county, Yangquan, celebrated the launch of its third Forsythia Flower Festival on April 11.

As the gentle spring breeze awakens the golden blooms across the hills, visitors flock to the village for tea tasting, photography, and the breathtaking beauty of nature.

The vibrant forsythia plants also serve as a crucial source of income for residents. The surrounding mountains are home to over 20 wild medicinal herbs, including bupleurum and baikal skullcap, with forsythia being the most abundant.

Zhu Youcai, a member of the village's CPC committee, highlights the year-round importance of forsythia. In early spring, the village hosts the flower festival; in mid-spring, villagers harvest young leaves to make forsythia tea; and by late summer and early autumn, they collect the mature fruits for medicinal purposes or to sell.

Under Zhu's leadership, the village expanded its forsythia cultivation in 2016, adding another 1,000 mu (66.67 hectares) to the existing wild forsythia fields by utilizing barren hills and spaces around homes.

During the festival, the village buzzes with activity, and the influx of visitors boosts local agritourism businesses. To encourage tourists to extend their stay and fully experience the local culture, the village has launched a new 2,000-square-meter facility offering optimal accommodation and catering.

Guo Ruiquan, the village's Party secretary, shared their future plans, "After the Forsythia Flower Festival, we plan to invite forestry experts to provide guidance on maintenance techniques, ensuring a successful harvest of forsythia fruits this summer and autumn."