Hechi poverty-stricken town makes big headways in development

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), Sanbao town in Tian'e country of Hechi made strong developments in terms of poverty alleviation, project construction, characteristic agriculture, cultural tourism, people's livelihood, as well as social stability.

Within the past five years, the GDP of Sanbao town reached 407.8 million yuan ($62.4 million), with a 12.44 percent year-on-year growth. The per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 7,737 yuan, increasing 13.3 percent.

Located in the northern Tian'e county, the town is over 1,200 meters in elevation, the highest of its kind in Tian'e county. It possesses eight administrative villages, with more than 3,900 households.

"There were vast barren mountains in the past, but now they have become a resource to lift us out of poverty," Long Yingyong, a resident of Sanbao town, said happily.

Sanbao town has vigorously developed poverty-alleviation industries, with industry awards and subsidies granted to 807 households totaling 3.54 million yuan. To overcome problems of a weak industrial foundation and low efficiency, the town adhered to a rural industrial restructuring.

In the past five years, the town has planted 23,000 mu of tea oil, 2,500 mu of walnuts, 3,500 mu of fruit, 800 mu of chestnuts, 2,300 mu of Chinese herbal medicine, and 1,500 mu of selenium-rich agricultural products. The collective economic income for resident per capita in the eight villages all exceeded more than 50,000 yuan a year.

The town boasts two resource advantages: Tung flowers and the folk culture of the Zhuang ethnic group, as typified by their distinctive blue clothing. The town has held the Tung Flower Festival for seven years, putting on shows including traditional folk song and wedding custom performances by Zhuang people, as well as local embroidery and characteristic goods exhibitions. The folk culture and beautiful countryside scenery have attracted numerous tourists.

In the past five years, a total of 2.21 million of education funds have been distributed to 903 students to help them receive their education as scheduled. The town has implemented a medical insurance policy program, with all poverty-stricken households covered. It relocated 40 households from inhospitable areas, while its safe and stable housing guarantee rate reached 100 percent. Moreover, 35 household water tanks and 105 water supply projects were completed, ensuring the safety of drinking water for all residents.

In addition, Sanbao town has been improving its infrastructure and rural environment. With a total investment of 63 million yuan, 133.05 kilometers of village roads have been hardened, 24 roads have been excavated, and two bridges have been built.