Hongyuan County: The Yak Revolution and Modern Prosperity

Spanning 747,000 hectares of alpine meadows, Hongyuan is home to more than 470,000 yaks, with 86 percent of the herd improved through selective breeding. The Maiwa yak, native to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, is central to the county's economic backbone. Historical records indicate that during the 16 months the Red Army spent on the northwest Sichuan Plateau, local Tibetan and Qiang residents provided over 200,000 yaks and 15,000 tons of grain to support the troops. Historian Yang Wenming notes that these animals were indispensable, providing meat, milk, and hides that shielded soldiers from the harsh highland climate.

Mao Zedong famously referred to this era of cooperation as the "yak revolution." For current residents, this history remains a symbol of unity and shared destiny. This heritage now fuels a modern industrial chain that integrates grassland conservation with high-value production. In Lower Halama Village, for example, villagers capitalize on the high quality of Maiwa yak milk, which commands prices significantly higher than standard cow milk. Infrastructure investments exceeding 600 million yuan have allowed the county to transition from traditional grazing to a full industrial ecosystem encompassing breeding, deep processing, and cultural tourism. Local officials, including Chen Zhimin of the CPC Hongyuan County Committee, emphasize that the current prosperity of the region’s diverse ethnic communities serves as the ultimate realization of the sacrifices made during the Long March.