Rural roads in Xiangxi win many honors

The rainbow road by the Qiabi River in Jishou City of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture connects 9 Miao villages, and rural tourism is developed according to local conditions. Villagers can achieve employment at their doorstep.

Xiangxi Prefecture has worked to integrate the construction of “Four Good Rural Roads” into the improvement of rural living environment, industrial layout, and all-for-one tourism. Rural roads have promoted the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. The “Four Good Rural Roads” is nearly 20,000 kilometers long, of which 1,000 kilometers of the “Most Beautiful Ecological Road” have become a golden road for the development of multiple industries.

Aikou Village of Majin’ao Town in Jishou City has promoted the integrated development of tea and tourism and achieved a per capita net income of over 30,000 yuan in 2023. Shibadong Village of Huayuan County has advanced the development of characteristic industries and realized an annual per capita net income of over 25,000 yuan.

The Datuo Oil Tea Industrial Park in Fuxing Town of Baojing County has been prosperous due to the construction of roads and has strong potential for income increase.

The construction of “Four Good Rural Roads” has led to more beautiful villages, thriving characteristic industries, and rich villagers. Express delivery stations set up in the countryside have made special agricultural products such as Xiangxi Golden Tea, Guzhang Maojian Tea, and kiwifruit enter large markets across the country, which are highly favored.

Despite financial constraints, Xiangxi Prefecture has still increased investment to build rural roads. To alleviate the financial pressure on rural road construction, a subsidy of 50,000 yuan has been given for one kilometer of the prefectural-level roads. The Xiangxi government has subsidized the construction of parking lots in each village.

Xiangxi Prefecture has invested sufficient funds in managing roads, established a three-level road chief system, with nearly 3,000 full-time and part-time maintenance workers for rural roads, implemented the main responsibility of management and standardized road environmental governance.

The Department of Transportation of Hunan Province has promoted the practices and experience of Xiangxi Prefecture around the whole province. Four counties have won national and provincial honors for their “Four Good Rural Roads”.

In 2023, Huayuan County and Jishou City were rated as the National “Four Good Rural Roads” Demonstration Counties, and Longshan County and Luxi County won the honorary title of “Four Good Rural Roads” Demonstration Counties in Hunan Province.