A media delegation on March 24 visited the towns of Dongshe, Liuqiao and Shigang – administered by the Tongzhou district of Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – to examine some of the initiatives the district is undertaking to advance its rural revitalization.

With the Yellow Sea to the east and the Yangtze River to the south, the district is located in a region that is overlapped by multiple national development strategies such as the Yangtze River Delta integration program and the Belt and Road Initiative.

In response to the new national strategy for rural revitalization, Tongzhou has elected to be a pathfinder – developing a number of model and leading villages to help further galvanize regeneration in the area.

With a focus on cultivating asparagus, Dongping village in Dongshe town has been recognized as a provincial characteristic village. Dushiyuan village in Shigang town, meanwhile, has won the title of China's beautiful village for leisure for its fishing bay. Elsewhere, Kaisha village in Wujie town has become a beautiful place that is a magnet for tourism.

Plans are for Tongzhou district to build 20 model villages for rural revitalization and 50 leading villages.

Golden rapeseed plants in Tongzhou are now in full bloom. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

A girl draws a picture of blooming flowers in spring. [Photo/ntjoy.com]

Blossoms add a fresh vitality to Tongzhou in spring. [Photo/ntjoy.com]