3 villages and a million startups

In a rural area about 70 kilometers from Hefei, capital of Anhui province, lie the villages of Donggua, Nangua and Xigua. Taken literally, their names mean white gourd, pumpkin and watermelon, respectively.

The villages, which neighbor each other, make up the community of Sangua, or three melons, with a registered population of more than 1,400.

"Most of the villagers have left for cities to make a living in the last two decades, but an increasing number of them are returning to their hometowns," said Zhang Yong'an, head of the Sangua community.