Poverty relief: Life gets better in Hetaoqing

“By planting walnut trees, our family can earn 60,000 yuan ($ 8966) a year. In addition, we have plenty of time to do what we want after the harvest,” said Lv Zhenglin from Hetaoqing Village, Binchuan County in west Yunnan’s Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.

Hetaoqing is a village of Yi people and boasts fine ecological environment and colorful ethnic culture. In recent years, the villagers' life gets better as infrastructure was improved and income increases. They also have access to more public services and enjoy good relations between neighbors. Now, the poverty headcount ratio of the village has dropped to zero percent from 27.75% in 2013.

With the support of Bichuan county government, facilities have been built in Hetaoqing to boost tourism development, including a square, Yi ethnic culture exhibition hall and plank road. Every year, when Yi ethnic festivals fall, the village becomes a hot tourism destination as local culture is integrated into the development of tourism.

Bearing in mind the philosophy that “lucid water and green mountains are valuable assets”, Hetaoqing villagers are laying more stress on eco protection in their pursuit of common prosperity.

By Bo Da from Yunnan Daily; trans-editing by Li Hengqiang