For China, rising tides lift all boats

In China, when you look out on a seemingly unspoiled vista, it can be easy to forget that the landscape you're admiring may in fact have been inhabited for centuries.

These are places that haven't seen the breakneck growth of other provinces for one reason or another. Maybe their geographic features weren't conducive to urbanization or rapid industrialization. Maybe there were cultural factors at play.

Whatever the explanation, now is the time for these regions to catch up to their forebears and attain a comparable standard of living. This is easier said than done, however. Many villages and counties have maintained their lifestyles for generations. A similar phenomenon exists elsewhere - and gives us an idea of what not to do.