From mountain to town: relocating the poor for a better life

Standing proudly in front of a two-story building that is set to become his new home, Li Nailing beams with satisfaction.

"I never even dared to dream that one day I would move away from these big mountains," said Li, who has long been living deep in the mountains of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Setting out from his small tile-roof house built in the 1980s, Li had to spend an hour climbing over mountains to reach the local township. The arduous journey meant he could only get into town to buy necessities once a month.

The county has been plagued by desertification. Like many local villagers, Li and his wife grow corn among the stony mountains to sustain a meager living.

In his spare time, he can often be seen squatting by the gate of his home, smoking cigarettes while worrying about his son's marriage.

"He is already 31! Sure, he has had girlfriends before, but they were all frightened away as soon as they visited our home," Li said.

The construction of the new house is part of China's effort to reduce poverty, and has brought hope to Li's family.

Li's new house is located in a suburban area just several kilometers away from the county. It is inside a new residential square where a total of 400 buildings of the same kind are being built for remote mountain villagers.

After moving to his new home, Li believes he will live a richer life and plans to find a job in the county. "Most importantly, I will urge my son to find a wife as soon as possible," he said.

At the end of 2015, China vowed to spend 600 billion yuan (89.1 billion U.S. dollars) over the next five years to relocate about 10 million impoverished people.

The campaign has been bringing about dramatic changes to China's rural areas. In Liulin Village, Tongjiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, dozens of buildings are under construction.

"We are so grateful that we can move to new homes, and almost all the cost of construction is covered by government subsidies," villager Li Guozhi said, pointing out that his family were entitled to a 25,000-yuan subsidy per person.

Located in the mountains, two thirds of the village have no telecommunication signals, and the poverty rate is 33.7 percent.

JOB CREATION

Relocation is no easy job for the local government, as officials have to consider how to help relocated people find jobs to eventually shake-off poverty.

Tianyang County in Guangxi plans to relocate 45,000 people by 2020. "We have to create over 10,000 jobs to meet the needs of relocated people, and that is the biggest challenge we are facing," said county Party chief Wei Zhengye.

Wei said the county plans to plant the barren mountains with mangos, so that relocated residents can work.

As impoverished households can each get a 50,000 yuan poverty-relief loan, with subsidized interest payments, the county will encourage them to buy shares in the mango base to gain profit.

Xiong Jun, head of Zhuzang Township, Bijie City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, said the township has opened a tea growing area and a peony growing area. "We have no problem offering at least one job for every relocated household," Xiong said.

In the mountainous Fenghuang village, Tongjiang County, Sichuan, Xiang Bilian, 60, has recently moved from a dilapidated house on a mountain slope to a two-story building on a roadside.

With a 5,000 yuan interest-free loan from the local government, she bought 30 goats. "I can sell six goats every year, each can be sold at 600 yuan, so I can make 3,600 yuan annually," she said. "Besides, I have two pigs and am growing some potatoes and herbs. Hopefully, I can get out of poverty by next year."