Mengku Overseas Chinese Farm in Shuangjiang County, Lincang

Mengku Overseas Chinese Farm(临沧市双江县勐库华侨农场), located in Shuangjiang County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province, was established in January 1979 to resettle Vietnamese refugees. Initially, it was transformed from a penal farm and has since undergone various administrative changes.

Administrative and Geographical Information

  • County Name Origin: Shuangjiang derives its name from the confluence of the Lancang and Xiaohei Rivers in the southeast of the county.
  • Total Area: 2,165 square kilometers
  • Administrative Divisions:
    • 4 townships
    • 2 towns
    • Mengku Overseas Chinese Management Zone
    • Shuangjiang Farm Management Committee
    • 72 village committees
    • 4 communities
  • Population:
    • Total: 170,000
    • Minority population: 45%
    • Home to 23 ethnic minorities, including a significant Brown ethnic group population
  • Natural Resources:
    • Rich in forest, mineral, and water resources
    • Forest coverage: 62.1%
  • Climate: Subtropical warm and humid monsoon climate
    • Notable Feature: Tropic of Cancer crosses the county

Historical Background

  • Establishment: 1979, from a penal farm to a state-run enterprise for settling Vietnamese refugees
  • Refugee Settlements: Received and settled 13 batches of refugees totaling 402 households and 2,192 individuals
  • Administrative Changes:
    • 1988: Transferred to the management of the Shuangjiang County Government
    • 2001: Designated as a county-owned state agricultural enterprise with independent management and financial responsibility
    • 2008: Establishment of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and local government management committees for the Mengku Overseas Chinese Management Zone

Current Status

  • Total Area: 7.08 square kilometers
  • Resident Population: 3,421
    • Returned Overseas Chinese: 1,378
    • Family Members of Overseas Chinese: 1,521
  • Agricultural Land: 6,933 acres
    • Tea Plantations: 3,745 acres
    • Citrus Orchards: 1,200 acres
    • Snow Pears: 1,300 acres
    • Sugarcane: 580 acres
    • Farmland: 170 acres
    • Dry Land: 483 acres

Key Features

  • Natural and Agricultural Resources:
    • Home to the extensive ancient tea tree forests of Mengku Daxueshan, the largest, highest-altitude, and densest known ancient tea tree population in the world
    • Fertile land with diverse agricultural activities including tea, citrus, pears, sugarcane, and various crops

Mengku Overseas Chinese Farm represents a vital agricultural and cultural hub in Shuangjiang County, effectively utilizing its natural resources to support a diverse and thriving community of residents, including a significant population of returned overseas Chinese and their families.