Three rural women in Shandong inspire millions

In rural Shandong province, three women are challenging stereotypes and inspiring millions with their talents and determination to carve out different paths. Their stories, widely shared on social media, reflect the changing landscape of rural China.

Li Xiaoxia, a 57-year-old retired English teacher in the county-level city of Zhaoyuan, has embraced her new role as an apple farmer.

Dressed in a black down jacket and a red scarf, she stands in her orchard, a picture of rural simplicity. But when she speaks, her fluent English reveals another side of her.

"We do hope to share our delicious apples with you," she said in English in a promotional video that quickly garnered thousands of likes.

Li began farming after retirement, drawn by her passion for rural life and a desire to contribute to her hometown's renowned apple industry. She and her family now cultivate a 100-hectare orchard.

"I grew up in the countryside, and I love the land so much," she said.

Her dedication to modern farming techniques, including integrated water-fertilization systems, has made her orchard a regional model for high-quality development.

Faced with a surplus of apples last year, Li turned to social media. With help from her niece, she created short videos in English that went viral, attracting more than 240,000 followers. Now, she livestreams regularly, sometimes selling more than 400 boxes of apples in a single day.

"In addition to promoting apples, I also want to introduce other products from my hometown and contribute to its development," she said.

Bun seller to internet star

Wang Xia, a 40-year-old steamed bun shop owner in Qufu, has also become an online sensation by combining her daily work with her passion for English.

Unlike Li, who has years of experience speaking English, Wang began learning the language from scratch last September to set a good example for her son, who was struggling with the subject in junior middle school.

When she started sharing her progress on social media, she quickly gained a following of 17,000 people.

"I'm 40 years old, a middle school graduate, and I've been selling steamed buns in a small rural town for five years. Thank you all for your support," she says often at the start of her videos as she greets her fans in English.

Despite working long hours at her shop, Wang squeezes in study time on her mobile phone, using translation and AI applications. Her videos document her progress from struggling with "broken English" to expressing herself more fluently, earning her a loyal audience. Some followers have even traveled to her town to try her steamed buns, boosting her business.

However, her journey has sparked controversy online. When she announced plans to take the IELTS exam in 10 years and study abroad, many questioned whether it was realistic.

"The point is that I'm doing it. If I can do it, anyone can," she says, adding that it is possible to break away from traditional life paths.

"I want to be a role model for my kids," she says. "And for other people in rural areas who think it's too late to change, I want to show them that we can always improve and keep growing."

From fruit farmer to poet

Lyu Yuxia, a 52-year-old fruit farmer from Mengyin county, has earned fame as a rural Chinese poet. Her poems in Chinese, inspired by daily life and the natural beauty of her surroundings, have drawn a following of 600,000 on social media.

"In my childhood, my father, a rural teacher, loved telling me history stories and poems while doing farm work. I enjoyed listening to him very much," Lyu said.

"I love writing and have kept several diaries," she added.

Two years ago, Lyu posted a poem about a picturesque rural scene on a social media platform, garnering 9 million views. Encouraged by her son, she began sharing her work online.

"Our hometown is getting more beautiful as the government pushes for rural vitalization. I hope more people learn about our hometown, its natural scenery and the peaches we grow," she said.