Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Development Zone in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been taking improving people’s livelihood as its priority in recent years.

In 2014, 4.27 billion yuan ($687.68 million) was spent on improving people’s livelihood, accounting for 73.3 percent of the public expenditure. The spending covered employment, housing, transportation and medical treatment.

Rebuilt houses in Qingge Dahu village, located in the Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Development Zone. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ten vegetable markets, eight indoor farmers’ markets and an agricultural wholesale market have been constructed on a ground space of 166,667 square meters.

To improve the energy efficiency of houses and their retention of heat, the zone transformed the exterior walls of the buildings in eight residential communities, benefiting 3,000 families.

As for transportation, more than 250 roads were renovated in 2014 and worn-out facilities, such as gully traps, were replaced.

The zone built 701 houses accommodate those who had lost their homes due to redevelopment; it also spent 146 million yuan to improve rural infrastructure.

It also helped more than 20,000 people find jobs and arranged vocational training for as many as 16,000 people, maintaining the unemployment rate below 3.7 percent.

Elderly citizens practice taichi in a morning routine at Torch Square, located in the Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Development Zone. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To help those living a difficult life, more than 14 million yuan was set aside for subsistence allowances and 3.84 million yuan was granted as salvage money.

The zone also pledged 280 million yuan to set up 32 leisure centers for senior citizens and three centers where the elderly can be well cared.

To provide a better study environment, the zone spent 730 million yuan on education in 2014 and established two schools and five kindergartens. It also arranged hundreds of public performances to enrich people’s cultural life.

Two children buy vegetables at a farmer’s market in the Urumqi State High-tech Industrial Zone. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

By Yang Fan and edited by Jacob Hooson