Hechi's effort to improve traffic pays back

Rural residents in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region are now enjoying an improved life quality as all of the 138 towns in the city are now connected with new roads paved in asphalt or cement, replacing the old sandy ones, local authority reported.

Villagers are now able to transport their agricultural byproducts through motorbikes and automobiles instead of carrying it on their backs to the outside world, said Liu Wande from Datong village.

Guangxi's Department of Transportation has spent approximately 4.5 billion yuan ($678.7 million) into 1,025 rural road construction projects in Hechi since 2011, involving a total mileage of 6408.6 km.

A road connects villages in Gaoling town, Du'an Yao autonomous county, in Hechi city, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Oct 22, 2017. [Photo by Han Jinqin/www.hcwang.cn]

Meanwhile, Hechi government has also raised funds through various methods, such as bank loans and via attracting social capital to beef up road infrastructure and guarantee safe travel.

As a result, the convenient transportation attracts more businessmen to purchase crops and villagers now do not have to worry about not being able to sell their products, Liu added.

Apart from the booming crop farming, villagers also raise pigs, plant sugarcane and folium mori with lower transportation costs due to the new roads, according to Qin Bo, a grass-root official of Xialuo village in Hechi city.

Qin said that the village has planted 400 mu (26.67 hectares) of folium mori, which generates around 5,000 yuan net income per mu annually.

Besides, the village has successfully hosted a cultural festival themed around carrying-pole – which used to be a major means of transport for locals, for five consecutive years. Due to the unobstructed traffic, the rural event attracts more than 20,000 visitors to enjoy local views and culture every year.

Wide cement road stretches across the villages in Hechi. [Photo by Huang Wanqian/www.gxnews.com.cn]