Songyang county has been seeking to bring about rural revitalization by promoting the local culture in recent years. It was invited by the UN-Habitat to its first regular session in May.

Established in 199, Songyang is the oldest county in Lishui and one of the first famous historic and cultural cities in Zhejiang. It houses many important historic sites such as the Yanqingsi Tower, known as the “Oriental Leaning Tower of Pisa”, and more than 100 well-preserved old villages, and it has kept many traditional folk customs. 

By fostering high-quality agriculture while protecting traditional villages and promoting cultural tourism to diversify the local economy, the county has developed a distinct method of rural revitalization and become a model county for the protection and development of traditional villages.

According to local authorities, more than half of the county’s villages now have homestay, eco-agriculture and cultural industries. The county also has the nation's largest green tea market with an annual transaction value of over 5 billion yuan ($713 million). The permanent population has increased by around 5,700 over the past two years.

Hengkeng village, an old Chinese village in Songyang county, Lishui, Zhejiang province [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]