Guangming Village of Zhuangshi Subdistrict, Zhenhai District. [Photo provided to Ningbo Times]
By Dong Na
In 2003, Zhejiang Province launched the "Thousand Villages Demonstration & Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, an ambitious rural transformation and improvement campaign. Over the past 20 years, Ningbo's countryside has undergone remarkable changes, ranging from environmental improvements to public facility enhancements. Let's explore some inspiring stories that showcase the remarkable progress in Ningbo's rural revitalization.
From Simple Homes to Spacious Houses
In Guangming Village of Zhuangshi Subdistrict, Zhenhai District, the air is filled with the melody of singing birds and the lush greenery of vibrant plants.
Ding Aifen, a 62-year-old villager, lives in a 228-m2 two-story home with six rooms and two bathrooms.
In the past, the village roads were muddy and ill-kept. Most of the homes, built in the 1980s, were aging. It was the villagers' dream to live in spacious, comfortable houses.
Thanks to the implementation of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration & Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, the transformation of Guangming Village commenced. With an investment of approximately 150 million yuan, covering an expansive 23-ha area, the village's reconstruction was successfully completed by the end of 2010. When Ding Aifen and her husband moved into their new house the first night after the renovation, they were too excited to fell asleep.
Near the new village entrance is a recently-built community cultural center. A new clinic is staffed by a full-time doctor on duty all year round. There is also a wet market next to the village, where villagers could buy fresh produce and seafood.
Since the implementation of the Project in 2003, Ningbo has prioritized the construction of new homes for rural residents, as a vital aspect of improving the rural landscape, resulting in the creation of numerous model villages. In the last two decades, the city has successfully built 160 model villages and completed the reconstruction of 18 million square meters of homes, benefiting over 110,000 households.
Agro-tourism Flourishes
Nestled amidst the scenic beauty of the Siming Mountains, the village of Lijiakeng in Zhangshui Town, Haishu District, has undergone a tremendous revitalization.
In the early hours of the morning, inside a restaurant, owner Li Caijuan was hard at work in the kitchen. "We have a group of lunchtime guests, so we have to get ready," Li said.
Today, this formerly obscure village tucked away in the Siming Mountains is a popular tourist destination.
Li recalled a time 20 years ago when the village had limited access to transportation and residents struggled to stay informed about the outside world. Many villagers sought work opportunities beyond the village, while their old houses fell into disrepair.
To reinvigorate the aging village, the "Beautiful Countryside" rural construction project was initiated in 2012, as part of the larger "Thousand Villages Demonstration & Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" endeavor. Year after year, Lijiakeng witnessed remarkable transformations.
In 2012, Lijiakeng invested 600,000 yuan to engage a team of experts to design a comprehensive village development plan, which involved demolishing dilapidated and unsafe houses, restoring historical buildings, constructing new boundary fences and cobblestone paths, as well as constructing sewage treatment ponds and waste transfer stations.
Li Caijuan's restaurant is now one of the village's 12 "wealth creation bases". Together with the alpine fruit and vegetable base, these establishments have added 4 million yuan to the income of the village collective and villagers, resulting in fixed assets exceeding 20 million yuan.
Villagers Embrace Gardening
In the backyard of residence no. 52 in Hetou Village, Chaiqiao Subdistrict, Beilun District, 61-year-old villager Shi Guo'an tends to hundreds of pots of azaleas of all sizes, worth nearly 10,000 yuan, in his 50-square-meter backyard.
This beautiful yard is a stark contrast to its previous state, which was once home to chickens and ducks, emitting an unpleasant odor.
In 2008, as part of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration & Ten Thousand Villages Improvement" project, villagers were encouraged to spruce up their backyards, making them more visually appealing. Shi, who was already a prominent flower grower in the village at the time, decided to completely redesign his own backyard.
In the autumn of 2008, Shi and his son dismantled the fence surrounding the chicken coop together, initiating a multi-year endeavor that resulted in the metamorphosis of their shabby and unsightly backyard into a small but flourishing garden.
In the last three years, inspired by Shi's efforts, more than 30 other villagers have embarked on yard renovations. Now, almost every household in the village has a charming, well-maintained yard.
Along the road leading to his home, Shi has planted over 40 azalea plants, standing as a testament to his dedication and green thumb.
The village community actively participates in the creation of these beautiful courtyards, epitomizing the spirit of devotion shared by every villager in the blooming "big garden" that is Hetou Village.