Zhoushan makes progress in building beautiful villages

Rural tourism destinations in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province are becoming popular among locals and tourists largely due to authorities' efforts to build beautiful villages over the past few years.

Authorities have in recent years been implementing a series of measures, including improving the living environment in rural areas, developing new industries and adopting digital technologies, to promote rural vitalization.

For instance, Shengsi county's Huanglong township has over the past three years invested 60 million yuan ($8.62 million) in establishing an integrated urban and rural garbage collection and transportation system, which plays an important role in protecting the township's ecological environment, said local authorities.

Daishan county's Shuanghe village has made full use of its resources, including converting idle houses into homestays and restaurants, to develop the tourism industry.

The village has revitalized 4,207 idle houses and 650-mu(43.33 hectares) idle land as well as provided jobs for 17,000 local residents.

The village's tourism industry has also attracted more youths to start businesses here, and this has in turn injected more vitality to the village.

In addition, authorities have been focusing their efforts on advancing agricultural modernization, which is critical to securing Zhoushan's food security and increasing locals' incomes.

Authorities have also adopted digital technologies to build "future villages" – new innovative residential clusters that feature an eco-friendly and digitalized rural lifestyle. Future villages are considered a key element in Zhoushan's common prosperity drive.