Xiajiafan village's path to common prosperity

A member of staff shows visitors around a ganoderma nursery in Xiajiafan village. [Photo/WeChat account: jinyunbobao]

With its history stretching back more than 800 years, Xiajiafan village in Jinyun county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – acts as the west gate of Jinyun and is regarded as a window for showcasing the county to the outside world.

Its current prosperity makes it hard to imagine that only a few years ago the village was faced with the plight of an exodus of its residents and increasingly bleak economy.

Changes began in 2019, with the launch of the province's historical and cultural ancient village protection project. Through it, Xiajiafan carried out a thorough renovation to its ancient buildings and roads, but still retained its traditional style and customs.

"The quadrangle courtyard where I live was first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was  dilapidated. The government not only helped me to repair it, but also restored the original style of the old house," said villager Li Kefang.

"Now the village is getting better and more people are coming to visit. I want to open a homestay in the future, so more people can experience the life of the ancient village," Li added.

The village is also focusing on turning the abundant ecological resources into tangible benefits for locals.

According to Li Xiaoli, Party secretary of Xiajiafan village, it now has 6.67 hectares of yellow tea and 5.33 ha of ganoderma – a fungus used widely in traditional medicine – under cultivation. The village has also lent more than 186.67 ha of mountain bamboo forest to a local scenic spot, for developing agriculture and tourism projects.