Shanxiabao village in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Jinhua Daily]
Wuyi county in Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, has over the past few years been making efforts to protect its ancient villages.
For example, authorities have established a protection system following the principle of "restoring old buildings to their original state" and "using local materials" under the guidance of an expert group.
Twenty endangered old buildings in Shanxiabao village were renovated under the principle, and some traditional customs, such as puppet shows, have been restored.
The local government has also implemented measures to get residents involved in the protection campaign and allow them to benefit from the initiative.
Shanghuang village in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Jinhua Daily]
Tantou village has restored 6,000 square meters of ancient buildings and transformed them into a museum showcasing archives of contemporary Chinese poets, which significantly increased its collective income.
In addition, authorities have rolled out a series of boutique tours revolving around farming, hot spring and tea, and hosted a series of activities such as inviting foreign students to experience local culture such as paper-cutting, to bolster tourism.
The county is home to more than 100 traditional ancient villages, 20 of which have been listed on the China Traditional Village List.
Local people rest on a bridge in an ancient village in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Jinhua Daily]
