Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The Xiangzhou government's persistent efforts to improve local livelihood and welfare over past decades have paid off by raising the district's status as one of China's top 100, according to People's Daily on Oct 10.

The annual ranking acknowledges economic achievement and progress in lifting living standards with 684 districts across the country under the evaluation of complex indicators reflecting comprehensive strengths.

By taking 45th position, the Zhuhai district in Guangdong Province again caught the eyes of the administrators in other regions with its unique practices eagerly to be learned, according to local reports.

We have been pursuing balanced economic development with major social advances to promote an affluent and comfortable life, said an official.

Specifically, priority has been given to the establishment of enough community parks, arts centers as well as the construction of electronic healthy records systems and medical service centers.

Parents play table tennis with their children at Xiangzhou's Meihua Urban Garden.

Aiming to become an international livable place, the local government has concentrated on providing public activity and recreation spaces by building community parks since 2012. And the program has been high on the most important 10 livelihood improving projects list for the past five years.

As planned, there will be 132 neighborhood parks in total through which to form a green fitness system within just 10 minutes' walk of all residences, which will also integrate greenways and slow traffic networks.

Mr Wu, a Xiangzhou resident in his seventies gave a thumbs-up to the Meihua Urban Garden which is close to where he lives in the city center.

The 220,000-sq-m community sports park is only one of such venues spreading over the entire city but really differs from any other.

"Here I can not only play chess with my friends but also work on my own little farmland," Wu said. "It's pretty satisfying that my family can eat the vegetables and fruit I grow for them, thanks to what the government has done for us."

Farmland is set aside for local residents at Xiangzhou community parks. [Photos courtesy Zhujiang Evening Post]

Besides a dedicated farming area, the parks also consists of a five-a-side football field, a gateball and a basketball court, two badminton courts, and three table tennis tables, plus a children's playground.

A total of 56.25 percent of the local people, mostly elderly, have their own health document established, recording the state of illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, according to statistics.

Policy makers have decided that Xiangzhou and Zhuhai will continue to invest in making residents feel happier, focusing on building parks and improving medical services.

Xiangzhou has earned numerous honors such as being a national civilized city and national peace and an area of advanced security construction.