Dongjiang village in Jinchengjiang district, Hechi city is a poverty-stricken area in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Situated in a mountainous area, the district has poor transportation systems, making it suffer from a lack of economic and social development.

Harsh geographical conditions have been hindering the development of the local economy. Over the past few years, the government has attached great importance to improving the traffic situation, transforming a deserted railway into a road in order to aid in the development of the local economy.

Mo Xiaoxue, a 52-year-old low-income farmer with a primary school education, raises 25 pigs and 120 goats. He is about to get rid of poverty with the help of the local government. [Photo by Li Muhang/chinadaily.com.cn]

With an investment of 7.8 million yuan ($1.12 million), the road covers a length of 21.5 kilometers, taking advantage of the old Guizhou-Guangxi Railway. Constructed in accordance with the fourth class road technical standards, the road opened to the public in May 2016. The route greatly shortens the distance between Dongjiang village and Liujia town in Hechi urban area, benefiting more than 30,000 people.

Thanks to the construction of the road and the government's support policies, farmers in Dongjiang village have energetically developed an aquaculture industry and are focusing on industrial crop planting, including poultry husbandry, sugarcane and walnut planting, as well as making large plantations for medicinal herbs, all of which have laid a solid foundation for poverty alleviation in the area.

Farmers plant medicinal herbs in mountain areas, which are sold to cities with the help of newly-built roads. [Photo by Li Muhang/chinadaily.com.cn]

Aiming to remould 30 roads in 30 impoverished villages, the government plans to invest 17.5 million yuan ($2.52 million) to improve the traffic situation in the area this year and has already finished 21 roads, accounting for 72.47 percent of the total planned investment.

The house Mo Xiaoxue lived in before has been reconstructed by the local government. [Photo by Li Muhang/chinadaily.com.cn]