Workers extract camellia oil in Liandu district. [Photo/WeChat account: liandufb]

The Liandu district of Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province is also known as the "oil depot in southern Zhejiang" – benefitting from the fact that camellia oil produced there is sold throughout the province.

Camellia oil, otherwise known as tea seed oil, is extracted from the seeds of the camellia oleifera shrub or small tree. It is used for a variety of purposes, including cooking oil, as well as for skin and hair care, among other things.

Lianji village in Liandu district used to be a remote and backward mountain village. But now, every household there plants camellia and with 40 hectares of camellia oleifera being cultivated, the village has formed a complete camellia oil production and supply chain from planting, to extracting and  sales.

Liandu district began promoting the woody oil upgrading projects based on the camellia oil industry in 2009. It has been since encouraging locals to plant camellia oleifera though funding and technical support.

Through years of development, the annual output of camellia oil seeds now tops 6,500 tons, with an annual output value of over 175 million yuan ($27.08 million).