Hard work helps mountain village out of poverty

Once a remote and impoverished village surrounded by loess and mountains, Wangzhuanggou village in Dayou town, Wuxiang county, Shanxi province, has undergone dramatic changes in recent years.

The village has been the beneficiary of a number of poverty-relief programs since 2014, leading to a number of improvements which have helped raise living standards for local residents.

A square has been built, roads have been paved, shops have been opened, and facilities for ecommerce startups have been provided.

For years, Wangzhuanggou village has been developing industries, such as planting, poultry farming and photovoltaic electricity, and has invested in parks and breeding cooperatives to help provide villagers with vocational skills, such as garment processing and e-commerce.

As a result, the whole village is now officially out of poverty with per capita annual income rising to 6,100 yuan ($907) by the end of 2018, enabling villagers to spend more on leisure activities, such as a grand celebration for the recent Spring Festival featuring a three-day theatrical performance.