Four historic cultural villages in Quzhou, a city located in East China's Zhejiang province, were recently included on the list of the "10 modes" for the protection and utilization of historical and cultural (traditional) villages in Zhejiang province, local media reported on Sept 17.

Yudong village

A view of Yudong village in Gouxi township, Kecheng district, Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/qz123.com]

Yudong village is  located in Gouxi township, Kecheng district and has created a distinctive cultural brand of Yudong farmers' paintings. It has opened up an online trading platform and held online exhibitions for its farmers' paintings.

More than 100 kinds of cultural and creative products such as handicrafts, textiles and souvenirs based on farmers' paintings have been developed. The output value of farmers' painting related industries has reached more than 30 million yuan ($4.19 million).

Miaoyuan village

The traditional sacrificial offering ceremony for Gou Mang takes place in Miaoyuan village, Jiuhua township, Kecheng district, Quzhou. [Photo/qz123.com]

Miaoyuan village is located in Jiuhua township, Kecheng district. It is the only village in the world that still practices the traditional sacrificial offering ceremony for Gou Mang, which has a history of more than 2,000 years.

The village developed the Start of Spring research courses to allow students to understand the traditional farming civilization.

Qinghusan village

A view of the ancient town in Qinghusan village, Qinghu street, Jiangshan, Quzhou. [Photo/qz123.com]

Qinghusan village on Qinghu street, Jiangshan, has built soybean planting bases to develop the soy sauce industry.

The village has also focused on tourism development of its ancient town. A block integrating handicraft stores, food stores, and general stores has been created, which helps more than 500 villagers find jobs and increase the annual per capita income by nearly 40,000 yuan.

Xiayu village

A view of Xiayu village in Yinkeng township, Kaihua county, Quzhou. [Photo/qz123.com]

Xiayu village in Yinkeng township, Kaihua county, has leveraged its ecological resources to develop its homestay industry.