Putuo earns provincial recognition for rural vitalization efforts

Putuo district in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province was recognized provincially for its efforts to drive rural vitalization over the past two decades, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province announced on May 26.

Authorities have taken actions such as renovating public toilets, treating sewage, and sorting garbage, as well as upgrading public facilities including public green spaces, roads and lamps, to improve the living environment in the district's fishing villages.

Authorities have renovated 44 stone houses on Dongfushan Island and converted them into fishermen's painting studios, which have attracted flocks of students on study tours.

Authorities have also implemented a series of measures, including transferring land rights, revitalizing idle rural assets, and developing modern agriculture, to increase residents' incomes, with the per capita disposable income of rural residents in 2022 rising to 45,570 yuan ($6,347.05).

Authorities have also rolled out favorable policies to attract young people to start businesses in the district, which will inject new vitality into its fishing villages' vitalization drive.

In addition, the local government had launched 47 projects with a combined investment of 259 million yuan on its islands by the end of 2022.

The projects, which are aimed at improving the islands' infrastructure and public services, will play a key role in improving residents' wellbeing and aiding its common prosperity drive.