Overseas Chinese Farms

The overseas Chinese farm is a state-owned farm set up by the government of the people’s Republic of China in the 1950s to resettle the returned emigrants. There are 84 overseas Chinese farms in China, including 23 in Guangdong, 22 in Guangxi, 17 in Fujian, 13 in Yunnan, 5 in Hainan, 3 in Jiangxi and 1 in Jilin. Of the 84 overseas Chinese farms in the country, 41 were set up in the 1950s and 1960s to resettle more than 80,000 returned emigrants from Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and other countries, and 43 were set up in the late 1970s to house Vietnamese expatriates. Yunnan Province overseas Chinese farming (forest) farms were founded in 1960, there are 12 overseas Chinese farms and 1 overseas Chinese forest farm, a total of 36,405 returned overseas Chinese from Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and other countries were resettled. Land area is of 424,291 mu(about 28,286 hectares), including 83,331 mu(about 5,555 hectares) of cultivated land, 140,000 mu(about 9,333 hectares) of timber forest area.

History

The overseas Chinese farm and its residents have gradually faded out of people’s sight and become historical memories. Its existence is an almost forgotten branch of Chinese diplomatic history. Overseas Chinese farm, a term born in the last century. To this day, it and its residents have gradually faded out of sight, become a memory sealed in history. They come from different countries, but their destinies are very similar. In their own countries, but they stick to the language and living habits of their ancestral home and the host country where they lived. Their stubborn let themselves become strangers in the eyes of outsiders. Their history is an almost forgotten branch of Chinese diplomatic history.

In 1959, there was a serious anti-Chinese incident in Indonesia, where Chinese property was plundered and displaced. New China without oppression and exploitation became their yearning place. After consultation with Indonesia, China sent ships to Indonesia to pick up a group of overseas Chinese, let them participate in national construction.

In the late 1950s, Sino-Indian relations deteriorated, and Indian overseas Chinese were hit. Many Indian overseas Chinese asked to return to China, and the Chinese government sent several ships to India to pick up overseas Chinese.

If the return of Indonesian and Indian overseas Chinese is fairly a smooth road, the return of Vietnamese overseas Chinese can only be regarded as refugee. “carrying pot and rice on their back, the adults took their children and ran from the interior of Vietnam to the Sino-Vietnamese border, their houses, real estates, forests, rice that was about to mature, none of which were brought back.”

Until 1979, the government had simplified the examination and approval procedures for overseas Chinese and their relatives several times. After the introduction of the policy, those overseas Chinese whose relatives live in Hong Kong or other countries have applied to emigrate to Hong Kong or other countries.

Overseas Chinese Farms in Yunnan

13 overseas Chinese farming (forest) farms in Yunnan Province are distributed in 9 counties in 7 prefectures of the province, with abundant land resources and unique geographical and climatic conditions:

1. Ganzhuang and Honghe overseas Chinese farms in Yuanjiang County(元江县) of Yuxi City; Caifeng, Taihe and Binju overseas Chinese farms in Binchuan County(宾川县) of Dali Prefecture; Kejie overseas Chinese farm in Changning County(昌宁县) of Baoshan City, as well as Gengma overseas Chinese farm in Gengma County(耿马县) of Lincang city, they have rich tropical area resource advantages and are suitable for planting fruit, sugar cane, early winter vegetables, south medicine and tropical flowers.

2. Adjacent to Baise of Guangxi province, Wenshan Jinba overseas Chinese Forest farm is nearby national road No. 323 with convenient transportation. With a total land area of 10,000 hectares, it is suitable for planting Chinese fir, eucalyptus, anise, mango, citrus and other economic forests in tropical area. There are 9,333 hectares of high-quality artificial timber forest with 670,000 cubic meters of living wood growing stock.

3. Located in Mangshi City, the prefectural capital of Dehong, next to the national Ruili border port, Mangshi overseas Chinese farm has superior location advantages, which can develop border trade.

4. Mengku overseas Chinese Farm located in Shuangjiang County(双江县), Lincang City, is one of the main tea production areas in Yunnan Province, without environmental pollution, the farm has great development value as a green ecological tea.

5. Binju, Taihe and Caifeng three overseas Chinese farms in Binchuan County of Dali Prefecture, is a famous tourist area in China. As a famous Buddhist mountain, the local Jizu Mountain enjoys a high reputation in Southeast Asia and is rich in tourist resources. Three farms are suitable for citrus growth, has planted more than 667 hectares. Navel oranges produced there are large and sweet with beautiful appearance, the yield can reach 3-4 tons per unit area.

Tour including Jizu Mountain: 
2 Days Dali Pilgrimage Hiking Tour from Erhai Lake to Jizu Mountain

6. Yuanjiang County of Yuxi City, where the Honghe overseas Chinese Farm is located, is one of the best places for aloe production, of natural conditions such as soil and climate are suitable for the growth and reproduction of aloe. The local government has vigorously developed aloe planting as a new pillar industry with local advantages. Honghe overseas Chinese Farm has established a 13-hectare aloe planting base and a small aloe product processing factory. The aloe powder produced has been welcomed after it was put into the market.