For a long time, however, transportation difficulties meant the landlocked village could not capitalize on its unique ecological advantage. Growing dendrobium officinale was something villagers, including 44-year-old Chen Jian, had never thought of.

"All the oaks are 'cash cows' now," Chen said. "Natural forests cannot be cut, so we did nothing but protect them in the past. Ever since the dendrobium were 'planted' on the tree trunks, the green hills that we have kept for decades have turned into gold."

Chen, who worked outside of Guizhou for many years, now works in the village as a manager of the dendrobium planting base.

"It's wonderful that our village has an industry now, so I don't have to leave my hometown anymore. Life is much more comfortable than in the past," said Chen, adding that she now earns a monthly salary of more than 3,000 yuan ($446). She can also cycle to work in just a few minutes and can take care of her two children and elderly mother-in-law.

"Without competing with agriculture, planting the dendrobium can liberate good fields," Chen said. "Without harming the grass or trees, we can achieve harmonious coexistence. High mountains and deep forests do no harm to the plant, but can help restore authentic herbs."

The period for flower gathering lasts from April to June every year, and the fresh branch picking period is from November to March. Residents from the neighboring area can all come to work at the base, and a skilled worker can earn up to 500 yuan a day.

"Last year, the salaries we paid totaled more than 4 million yuan," said Ruan, adding that there are always job vacancies at the base. During the peak picking period, more than 200 workers are needed every day.

As the cultivation features "zero chemical fertilizer, zero chemical pesticides, zero hormones, and zero transgenics", dendrobium produced in Zhegui finds a ready market.

Ruan said the finished products, after the drying process, are sold at a market price of more than 15,000 yuan per kilogram. In the markets of Hunan and Fujian provinces, some products are still short in supply and sell for more than 20,000 yuan per kg.

Now, the company is gradually entering markets in Beijing and the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions.

Besides offering considerable economic benefits without felling trees, the dendrobium industry has also accelerated poverty alleviation in Zhegui.

Poverty-stricken villagers are encouraged to work at the dendrobium base and buy shares in the company.

With an average annual income of over 30,000 yuan, a total of 1,691 residents in 445 households in Zhegui have stepped out of poverty, statistics showed.

Starting from Zhegui, dendrobium has made roots in many regions of Anlong county, with the total area of imitation wild dendrobium covering more than 340 hectares.

The saying "plant dendrobium and harvest gold" is common in the area, and Anlong dendrobium officinale, now listed as one of the China Protected Geographical Indication Products, has formed a series of brands.

According to a provincial plan, the area planted with dendrobium will reach 13,333 hectares by the end of this year, allowing more people to benefit from it.

Xinhua