Shandong's county bolsters efforts in three aspects to boost rural vitalization

In Weiwan town, located in Caoxian county, East China's Shandong province, three prominent "pictures" emerge: a thriving industry, a commitment to ecology quality, and a focus on community service. Together, these components paint a new landscape of rural vitalization.

Weiwan town has dedicated itself to the development of its local specialty industry by leveraging its natural resources. By combining low-lying areas of lotus ponds, salted land, and abandoned pits and ponds, the town transformed these spaces into agricultural parks, tourist attractions, and aquatic product processing factories. Additionally, the establishment of cold storage facilities and trading markets has been instrumental in attracting businesses and cooperatives. Collaborative relationships in agricultural production and sales have been forged through the provision of technical services and order procurement.

According to Wang Jian, Party secretary of the town, Caoxian boasts 1,333.3 hectares of lotus ponds, with its aquatic products, including various fishes, lotus roots, and rice, selling well in surrounding provinces and cities, generating an annual output value exceeding 300 million yuan ($41 million). Additionally, Weiwan town has achieved 500 million yuan in revenue from the tourism industry, with the number of enterprises above the designated scale reaching nine.

Weiwan town has accelerated the enhancement of its living environment through initiatives such as renovating house facades, rectifying illegal constructions, improving hygiene around residences, and installing sewage collection pipeline networks. These efforts not only enhance the visual appeal of rural areas but also foster a positive community spirit and promote a pleasant countryside culture.

The town has established an extensive "green corridor" of forests, spanning thousands of hectares. This initiative involves planting fast-growing poplar trees across 6,666.67 hectares of farmland and cultivating high-yield forests covering 933.33 hectares. As a result, this forestry project has generated an industry value of 19 million yuan, promoting a harmonious balance between ecological conservation and economic development.

Weiwan town has prioritized the living quality of its residents by focusing on key aspects of their livelihoods, including residential environment, public safety, basic healthcare, cultural and recreational activities, basic education, and social support. The town conducts comprehensive assessments and regular visits to address urgent concerns and tackle challenges raised by the community, ensuring that every matter receives a response and every issue sees progress.

Thanks to the presence of these three "pictures", the vision of prosperity, thriving industry, and enhanced quality of life has transformed Weiwan into a radiant gem shining brightly across the landscape of Caoxian county. (Edited by Zhang Ying)