国内英语资讯:China Focus: Leaving their cave dwellings behind, Ningxias ecological migrants embrace a b_时事

国内英语资讯:China Focus: Leaving their cave dwellings behind, Ningxias ecological migrants embrace a b

The local government built houses and facilities including schools, community hospitals, and shopping malls for the newcomers. With strong policy support, experts and enterprises from the eastern province of Fujian came to Minning and helped teach the farmers how to grow mushrooms, grapes and flowers. Free job training was also provided in order to help the farmers lift their families out of poverty.

In 1997, villagers like Xie earned about 500 yuan (73 U.S. dollars) a year on average. Now some 20 years later, he earns nearly 12,000 yuan a year.

"I was living in the countryside, but now I enjoy my life here in the township," Hai said.

In 2017, Hai was hospitalized for two weeks due to illness. The hospital told him not to worry about the money as medical insurance would cover most of the costs and he could pay the rest after recovery.

For Hai, the ecological relocation program has been a way to improve his quality of life and provide a better future for his family.

Those villagers who did not want to move to Minning were not left behind. The local government offered them opportunities to move to places with better living conditions in Xihaigu so that they don't have to say goodbye to their beloved mountains.