By the end of 2017, Zhejiang province had renovated and reconstructed 27,000 administrative villages, accounting for 97 percent of the total.
This set of photos highlights the transformation of a village in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, from the 1980s to April 2018. Yucun village is located at Tianhuangping town in Anji county. During a visit to the village, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the idea that "lucid waters and lush mountains are as valuable as gold and silver." In 2003, Yucun village began to shut down mines and cement plants, and to promote tourism and pursue green development. It also launched projects to treat sewage and regulate its rivers, which greatly improved the local environment. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This set of photos shows the residential buildings in Huayuan village in Dongyang, Zhejiang province in 2006 and in May 2013. In recent years, Huayuan village has carried on a series of renovation work. The once poor and backward village has now been named a national AAAA scenic area, featuring many scenic spots and commercial streets. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This set of photos shows the then and now of Fengshuping village in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This set of photos shows an overgrown field in Shangxiawen village in Zhuji, Zhejiang province. The overgrown field in the above photo was transformed into the wetland park as captured on April 20, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
By the end of January 2018, 96 percent of the household garbage underwent treatment in the rural areas of Zhejiang province.
A villager disposes household garbage at a waste sorting station in Wangxiang village in Yuyao, Zhejiang province, April 20, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Two community service volunteers teach a villager about garbage sorting in Fangyi village in Changxing county, Zhejiang province, April 22, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
A villager disposes household garbage at a mobile waste sorting station in Mulianwu village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, Aug. 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Villagers sort household garbage at home in Mulianwu village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, Aug. 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
A villager disposes household garbage at a smart waste sorting station in Mulianwu village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, Aug. 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Garbage collection workers carry a bin to their vehicle at a waste sorting station in Mulianwu village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, Aug. 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
A garbage collection worker sorts out recycling glassware in Mulianwu village in Anji county, Zhejiang province, Aug. 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
By the end of 2017, 74 percent of wastewater from toilets, kitchens, and soap and detergent underwent treatment in the rural areas of Zhejiang province.
An aerial photo taken by a drone on April 21, 2018, shows the Xinjinggang River in Ganyao town, Zhejiang province. After three years of river management, the water quality of the Xinjinggang River has reached the standard of Grade-III. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Water treatment workers run daily inspections on the terminals of a sewage treatment station in Wucheng village in Changxing county, Zhejiang province, Sept. 28, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
An aerial photo taken by a drone on Aug. 8, 2016, shows a water treatment station in Wuyi county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
Technicians run the final test of sewage treatment demonstration station in Jiangdong village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, July 3, 2014. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
By the end of 2017, 96.7 percent of the rural areas of Zhejiang province had access to sanitary toilets. In the new round of toilet reconstruction work launched by the province on April 9, 2018, 50,000 more toilets in its rural areas will be renovated.
The photo shows a public toilet built in the style of quadrangle in Dachen village in Yongkang, Zhejiang province, June 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
The photo shows a modern toilet facility in Dachen village in Yongkang, Zhejiang province, June 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
The photo shows a baby seat and baby care station in a toilet in Dachen village in Yongkang, Zhejiang province, June 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
The photo shows a well-furnished toilet in Dachen village in Yongkang, Zhejiang province, June 3, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
In 2010, Zhejiang province launched the project of building forest villages, in a bid to improve the rural ecosystem. Zhejiang aims to plant 100 million trees by the end of 2020, and build at least one demonstration village in every town.
An aerial photo taken by a drone on April 22, 2018, shows the azalea flower fields in Erjieling village in Changxing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The picturesque Daijia village in Zhejiang province is surrounded by mountains, as captured on Aug. 10, 2015. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
Rural roads in Zhejiang province reach 108,000 kilometers, accounting for 90 percent of all roads in the province. Tarmac, cement roads and bus services are available in every administrative village.
This aerial photo taken on March 27, 2018, shows a rural road in Yuhang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on March 27, 2018, shows rural walkways in Yuhang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on March 27, 2018, shows rural walkways in Yuhang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on March 27, 2018, shows a rural road in Yuhang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on Dec. 21, 2017, shows people riding bikes on a road in Changxing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on April 24, 2018, shows a waterfront road near Shimen village in Songyang county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on Jan. 25, 2018, shows a rural road in Yucun village in Anji county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on March 22, 2018, shows a reconstructed rural road that connects the villages in Pingshui town in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Anji county put forward a plan to build beautiful villages in 2008, in a bid to improve people's livelihood and increase villagers' income. In 2010, Zhejiang province mulled over policies in the "Action Plan for Building Beautiful Village" on the basis of Anji's practice. For now, there are 12 demonstration counties, 300 scenic spots, and 2,500 featured villages.
The photo taken on Nov. 3, 2017, shows Mantangli village in Anji county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken by a drone on April 20, 2018, shows Qingyang village in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. The village was listed as a national 5A level scenic spot in 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on Jan. 29, 2018, shows Lingfeng subdistrict after a heavy snow in Anji county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Villagers from Qingshandian village of Qianchuan town in Zhejiang province, travel with tourists by ship on Nov. 28, 2017. In recent years, the Qianchuan town government ramped up efforts to develop rural tourism with its unique natural scenery and agricultural background. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The concept of "family farm" was first put forward in a government document in 2013. By the end of 2016, 29,172 family farms received business registrations in Zhejiang province.
A tourist picks cherries at a family farm in Hongqiao town, Zhejiang province, April 23, 2018. In recent years, the Hongqiao town government has promoted the development of family farms and tourism agriculture by providing financial support for the local villagers, generating an income of 20 million yuan (US$3.1 million). [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
A sightseeing train travels along the tea mountain in Lujia village, Anji county, Nov. 11, 2017. The train travels through 18 distinctive family farms, presenting passengers with the unique scenery of Lujia village. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
A villager picks from the pitaya plants at a family farm in Changxing county, Zhejiang province, July 10, 2017. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
Villagers operate four combine-harvesters to harvest rice in the Zhoukaibiao family farm in Quanxi town, Zhejiang province, July 12, 2016. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
By the end of September 2017, Zhejiang province had renovated dilapidated houses for 302,000 poor rural families.
This aerial photo taken by a drone on April 22, 2018, shows the residential buildings in Gangkou village in Changxing county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken by a drone on April 21, 2018, shows Taoyuanxincun community in Yaozhuang town, Zhejiang province. With an investment of 1 billion yuan (US$158 million), more than 8,500 people from 10 nearby villages have been relocated in the community. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken by a drone on Nov. 2, 2017, shows Dazhuyuan village in Anji county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on April 10, 2018 shows the newly built houses in Wencun village of Dongqiao town in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Since the project of rural auditorium launched in 2013, Zhejiang province has attached great importance to building beautiful villages and promoting the integration of traditional folk culture and modern civilization. By the end of 2017, 7,916 rural cultural auditoriums had been built in Zhejiang province. The province aims to build at least 10,000 auditoriums by the end of 2020, covering 80 percent of its rural population.
Villagers watch a shadow puppet performance in Xidai village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, Feb. 1, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on April 25, 2018, shows an auditorium in Liujiatang village in Anji county, Zhejiang province. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Villagers perform in an auditorium in Dongyi village in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, Jan. 17, 2017. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
An audience gathers for the lion dance and dragon dance performances in Dongwang village in Shengzhou, Zhejiang province, Feb. 3, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Zhejiang province has launched a series of projects to protect traditional Chinese villages since 2013. By the end of this March, the provincial government has funded six batches of 259 key villages and 1,282 ordinary villages, with a total funding of over 5 billion yuan.
The photo taken on April 24, 2018, shows the ancient residential buildings in Yangjiatang village in Songyang county, Zhejiang province. The village has a history of at least 360 years. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
Workers repair an ancient residential building in Yangjiatang village in Songyang county, Zhejiang province, April 24, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Xinhua]
The photo taken on Nov. 18, 2017, shows the He family ancestral temple in the ancient Guodong village in Wuyi county, Zhejiang province. Dating back to 1609, the temple covers an area of 1,060 square meters. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
The photo taken on Nov. 18, 2017, shows Houwu village in Yongkang, Zhejiang province. Houwu village is one of the four villages in Zhejiang province included in the list of China's historic and cultural villages, with well-preserved ancient buildings in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1840). [Photo courtesy of VCG]
The photo taken on Sept. 13, 2015, shows Xujiashan village in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The village is one of China's historic and cultural villages, and the largest and best-preserved ancient stone village in Ningbo. [Photo courtesy of VCG]
