Zhejiang province, one of the country's most developed, was designated as a demonstration zone of balanced, shared growth for the next major stages in national development.

The province aims to achieve common prosperity by 2035, with its per capita gross domestic product and the income of urban and rural residents reaching developed countries' standards.

In August, a meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs outlined steps to promote common prosperity through high-quality growth, calling for a phased approach to reach the target.

The road to common prosperity is expected to be comprehensive and long-term, and pursued in a gradual and progressive manner, with suitable areas offering replicable practices and models.

As a key indicator of balanced development, Zhejiang's income ratio between its urban and rural residents fell to 1.96:1 last year, markedly lower than the national level, according to provincial authorities.

Zhejiang's rural vitalization efforts, which build on local physical, cultural and environmental strengths, are making headway in the Guyan Huaxiang scenic spot in Liandu district of the city of Lishui.

More than 80 wood product factories dotted the area less than a decade ago, prompting local authorities to relocate polluting industries and invest in protecting and promoting the environment for more sustainable development.

Amid the improving environment and local government support and incentives to develop the artistic and creative culture sectors, Liandu's lush mountains and clear waterways soon attracted more than 120 artists' studios and painters. This in turn drew about 1.9 million tourists to the countryside each year.

Top paintings can command nearly 100,000 yuan each, while one guesthouse reported annual income of over 500,000 yuan, even amid pandemic travel disruptions, according to local authorities.

The Guyan "painting village" has since become known among artistic and creative circles for nurturing a community of artists who paint landscapes in the style of the European Barbizon School, the mid-19th-century French school of painting that made a significant contribution to the establishment of Realism in French landscape painting.

Zhao Mei left the provincial capital, Hangzhou, to set up her art studio in Guyan Huaxiang two years ago.

The Barbizon-style painter enjoys rental waivers covering five years and related subsidies of about 30,000 yuan a year to help her play a role in local development, which includes offering art classes to the community.

"The air here is really good. I came for the pristine environment, and I plan to stay for the long term," she said.

Li Wujun, who runs a nearby art gallery, was also drawn by Guyan Huaxiang's opportunities. Li, 52, a Liandu native, returned from Milan to help promote local art appreciation and cultural development through major exhibitions and related events.

"In these two years, we've seen an increasing number of visitors from cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wenzhou and beyond," said Li, the art director of the Boland art and culture center.

"I try to promote our local artists' work as well, to help build our own art community," he said.

Zhao said the improvements and upgrading are "not just about bread-and-butter issues. It's also about art, culture and our overall well-being."