Ready for a sweet adventure? Nestled high in Nilka County, in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of the Chinese mainland’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, beekeepers are turning mountain blooms into liquid gold. At around 1,800 meters above sea level, this hive hub is home to the famed Xinjiang black bee—one of China’s four major bee species—feasting on over 270 types of wild and farm-grown nectar sources. 🍯🐝
Reporter Li Yimei from CGTN Digital traveled to these remote valleys to meet the farmers who keep the buzz alive. Here’s the scoop:
- High-altitude hustles: Mobile apiaries move with the seasons, following blooming rhododendrons, wild thyme fields, and buckwheat patches. It’s like bee glamping—complete with solar-powered hive monitors that ping beekeepers via smartphone apps!
- Flavor explosion: Thanks to diverse nectar—from alpine roses to apricot blossoms—each batch of honey carries unique floral notes. Think rose-scented drizzles for your chai or a thyme-infused twist for your avocado toast. 🌸🥑
- Rural revival: The honey boom is boosting incomes, creating jobs for local Uygur and Kazak families, and preserving traditional beekeeping skills. Young locals are now mixing heritage with tech, using drones to scout flower fields and data dashboards to track hive health.
- Sustainable sweetness: With no heavy pesticides in sight and eco-friendly hive practices, this honey isn’t just tasty—it’s planet-friendly. It’s a win-win for bees, farmers, and nature lovers everywhere. 🌿✨
Whether you’re drizzling it on dosas in India, stirring it into Thai iced tea, or sweetening your kopi across Southeast Asia, remember the hardworking bees and farmers behind every drop. Next time you savor that golden sweetness, you’re also tasting a story of innovation, culture, and community. 🙌
Reference(s):
A sweet cause: Xinjiang honey industry revives rural economy
cgtn.com
