Young entrepreneur brings Bouyei gray tofu to wider markets

On Aug 13, People's Daily featured the story of Chen Xingxing, a young entrepreneur who returned to her hometown in Xiayuan village, Pianpo Bouyei ethnic township, Wudang district, Guiyang, to preserve the traditional craft of Bouyei gray tofu while helping local villagers increase their incomes.

Chen grew up learning to make gray tofu with her parents. Three years ago, after earning her master's degree, she returned to the village and took over her family's tofu workshop. In the past, the specialty was mainly sold at local markets and to nearby residents, with daily sales of only a few dozen kilograms.

After returning home, Chen upgraded the workshop, registered a trademark, and began using short videos to showcase the production process and Bouyei culture to a wider audience, attracting customers from outside the village.

"People who had tried gray tofu knew it was delicious, but not many people outside the area knew about it. Now, online orders can be shipped directly from the village," Chen said.

To ensure consistent quality, Chen worked with her parents to refine the use of fermented sour soup and plant ash, while introducing modern equipment to improve production efficiency. The workshop now provides around 1,000 person-times of employment each year and pays more than 100,000 yuan ($14,877) annually in wages, helping local residents earn a living close to home.

Chen has also expanded the workshop into an intangible cultural heritage experience space, offering activities such as grinding soybeans and making tofu. During this year's Spring Festival, a folk event in Xiayuan village attracted more than 2,000 visitors, boosting sales of locally made specialties.