The village of Dongwuzhuang in Wanrong county presents a new look after a major renovation. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wanrong, a county in the Shanxi city of Yuncheng, has become a sample of the province's "beautiful countryside" campaign and a role model in rural vitalization after nearly eight years of development.

It has received numerous honors over the years granted by national and provincial authorities, which include "a typical case for equalized urban and rural public services in China"; "a national demonstration county for clean villages"; "a provincial pilot county for comprehensive improvements in rural living environment and rural vitalization" and "a provincial demonstration county for leisure and rural tourism".

Behind these honors are the local government's efforts to improve the livelihoods of rural residents, which include improving the environment, renovating infrastructure and creating job and business opportunities, according to local officials.

Wang Bin, a resident in Miaoqian village, is a witness to these positive changes. "Before 2020, Miaoqian was one of the most dilapidated villages in Wanrong, with unrepaired houses and unpleasant environment," Wang recalled. "I moved to the county seat where I bought a new apartment and decided to never return."

But after the completion of a new settlement near the former residential block of the village, he returned in 2020. The settlement was used to house people relocated from their old homes.

The settlement, with new houses for 105 families, was a project funded by both the government and residents.

"There are now clean streets and tidy two-story houses along them," Wang said. "Inside the houses there are everything you can find in the homes of city dwellers – supplies of gas, heat and electricity and flushing toilets. Now I spend more time in this new home than the one in the county seat."

In Dongsufeng village, which had farmhouses in a better condition than the old ones in Miaoqian, the government adopted another approach to village upgrading. Renovations were launched to improve local infrastructure, which included refurbishing indoor toilets into the flushing type and replacing coal with electricity for heating.

Outside, a number of facilities have been developed for villagers. These include paved roads, a public square and park, a renovated opera stage, a sewage treatment facility and newly planted flowers along the roads.

But residents and officials said they were not content with mere environmental improvements, they need opportunities for jobs and business that sustain and boost livelihoods.

Wanrong is a county known for farming and is an important base for grains, fruits, animals and medical herbs in Shanxi.

When programs for improving the living environment were underway, the county government was devoting more energy to growing and strengthening the agricultural industry.

The county's officials said the key to enhancing agriculture and increasing revenue for rural residents lies in modernizing farming, developing high-value-added products and expanding the industry chain.

The county is now home to about 200 business entities for farming operations, including cooperatives for farming machine leasing, companies dedicated to the processing and sales of local produce, and institutions responsible for farmers' skills training.

The farming sector is also combined with the rural tourism industry, another source of revenue for residents, according to local officials.

Wang Peng contributed to this story.