Happy 30th anniversary to South China's Huanjiang Maonan county

Girls in national clothing celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hunan Maonan autonomous county in Hechi, Nov 18. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county, an ethnic minority area in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Nov 18 as it continues to work hard to eliminate poverty and build a moderately prosperous society in step with other parts of the country.

Over the last few days, the local Maonan, Miao and Yao ethnic people organized a series of festive events to celebrate the occasion.

But it's not only the anniversary itself they are cheering; they also celebrate the county's successes in poverty relief that have made huge differences in their lives.

A panorama of Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county in Hechi [Photo by Wei Shunjiang/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wei Yurong, a villager from Shuangle town in the mountains, was relocated to a community in Si'en town.

"The Miao and Yao people who have been relocated here including me are living in great harmony," Wei said. "We celebrate festivals together and when someone in our community is in need, we come to their aid. We are just like brothers and sisters."

Eighteen of the 28 communities in Chenshuang village were relocated from remote mountainous areas. Ninety percent of the people were ethnic minorities like Maonan, Zhuang, Yao and Miao. When the Miao people arrived in Chenshuang, the Zhuang and Maonan people offered livestock and machinery and taught them how to plant rice. They raised money and established a cooperative society together to plant fruits and even built a tourist attraction. The average income of the new villagers has now surpassed 6,000 yuan ($908.28), ten times their income when they lived in the mountains.

Over the last decade the local government issued a variety of policies to help the development of ethnic minorities. It has invested more than one billion yuan to improve infrastructure and launched a variety of projects pertaining to drinking water, education and country roads which have benefited 230,000 people in 72 villages.

The local government also holds an ethnic unity promotion month in the county each year, propagating its ethnic policy through folk songs.

Hechi Party Secretary He Xinxing (L2) and Mayor Tang Yunshu (R2) unveil a plaque to the people of Huanjiang in recognition of their achievements in the past 30 years. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Tang Yunbiao had lived in a remote mountainous area in Du'an Yao Autonomous County for most of his life before he was relocated to Jinqiao village of Huanjiang's Da'an town.

When Tang settled down in his new home, the local government gave him five acres for growing tangerines, and he now earns over 100,000 yuan a year.

He recently married a local woman, and this year built a big house. "When we first moved here, our new neighbors were willing to help us go through difficulties and we got along well. I can tell you that I have lived a happy life here especially after I met my wife," said Tang.

Meng Shiyi, deputy director of the department of ethnic and religious affairs in Huanjiang, is proud of the county's accomplishments and the attitudes of its people. "Since the founding day of the county," he said, "the government of Huanjiang has made great efforts to improve living and production standards for the local ethnic people, and to enhance our ethnic unity and social stability."