Qifangqiao honored for work on rural revitalization

Qifangqiao village, Xinwu district, Wuxi. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]

Located in Hongshan sub-district of Wuxi's Xinwu district, Qifangqiao village was recently included in a provincial list of characteristic rural villages, the only village in Wuxi to be awarded the title this time.

The historical town is famous for being the former residence of Chinese scholars Qian Mu (1895-1900) and Qian Weichang (1912-2010), two of the most prominent scholars in Jiangnan, the Yangtze River Delta region that has been eulogized by many generations of poets.

It is also known for its attractive natural scenery and tasty Hongshan grapes, making it a popular summer tourist destination.

The village has taken measures to improve its rural living environment and increase incomes for local farmers since 2020.

The local government has provided online sales channels for grape farmers. They can sell Hongshan grapes on online platforms with cold-chain express services now.

More than 200 square meters of illegal buildings were demolished, while 20,000 square meters of rural residential decorations were painted in the village.

The village also added 15,000 square meters of green space, improved villagers' fitness facilities, and upgraded garbage sorting facilities for local residents.

In addition, local parks and cultural venues were rebuilt to promote the culture and history of Qian Mu and Qian Weichang, aiming to better promote the village's rich traditional culture and beautiful rural scenery.