The scroll-shaped sculpture marks the beginning of Qishen Road in Nanhu district. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

Qishen Road in Nanhu district, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, was recently listed among the 10 most beautiful roads in China by the Ministry of Transport, local media reported on Feb 28.

Starting with a scroll-shaped sculpture celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 9-kilometer Qishen Road is decorated with a red boat-shaped sculpture, 1,000 mu of lotus, 19 cultural landscapes, and other scenic views.

Qishen is important for the transport of local agricultural products, including juicy peaches from Fengqiao town, fresh ginger from Xinfeng town, grapes from Daqiao town, and snails from Yuxin town.

Scenic views along Qishen Road. [Photo/cnjxol.com]

"I still think it is more comfortable to live in countryside than in the city," said a villager surnamed Chen from Fengqiao town. "Many citydwellers come to our village to spend the weekend or holiday."

Chen added that Qishen Road is transporting an increasing amount of visitors from the city to their village, and their income has increased as they can now sell their homegrown products and handicrafts to visitors and build homestays for them to experience a rural lifestyle.

In 2005, Jiaxing became the first city in Zhejiang to pave highways in all rural areas, and it is also the first city in the province to upgrade its rural highways. As of the end of 2021, 7,479 km of highways run through Jiaxing's rural areas.