For residents in the Weifang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, 2016 was a truly unforgettable year.

It was a year that saw the local government work tirelessly to improve the livelihood of local residents, promote cultural development, maintain food safety standards and support economic development.

In 2016, a total of 2,912 families that once lived in shantytowns in the zone were relocated to new, permanent homes. Among these, 70 percent had moved into new homes before the end of the year, according to the zone's communications office.

New year, new homes

Zhang Li, who for 20 years has suffered from hemiparesis caused by cerebral thrombosis, moved into a new apartment in Langqinwan community in Xincheng subdistrict in October 2016.

"I am 71 years old, and I thought that my quality of life would deteriorate because of my condition," Zhang said. "I never imagined that I would have the chance to move into a new apartment building, especially one that has elevators. It's so wonderful to be able to celebrate Chinese New Year here."

In addition to providing new properties to local residents, the zone gives subsidies to relocated residents to guarantee that they enjoy a better quality of life in their new homes.

"Apart from the new house, my parents have been granted various subsidies," said Zhang Jianhua, Zhang's daughter. "That has lightened my care load considerably."

Cultural enrichment

The development zone invested heavily in cultural enrichment in 2016. Throughout the year, local authorities arranged 200 cultural activities and 100 performances for local residents. Ten comprehensive culture centers and seven community-based culture squares were built to better serve residents' cultural needs.

Qingxin community in Xincheng subdistrict has arranged a series of cultural activities to promote traditional Chinese culture among residents before the 2017 Chinese New Year. For instance, in early January, calligraphers were invited to write Spring Festival couplets for residents. There is no doubt that residents appreciated the gesture, according to local officials.

A resident at the Weifang Hi-Tech IndustrialDevelopment Zone finishes his calligraphy workto celebrate Spring Festival.

"The handwritten Spring Festival couplets are more meaningful than printed ones," said Xin Hongqiang, who lives in Qingxin community.

"I would like to express my deep gratitude to the calligraphers. The handwritten Spring Festival couplets will create a better Spring Festival atmosphere at home," said Ma Mingxia, another Qingxin community resident.

Food safety guaranteed

The newly built Shijia Agricultural Products Trading Market in the development zone has brought greater convenience and safety to the zone's residents.

It is also affiliated to Shandong Baier Testing, a food testing laboratory that is capable of testing all of the produce for safety before it is sent to the market.

One of the technicians at the laboratory, surnamed Yang, said: "We immediately report the results to the market supervision department and release the relevant information to the public."