In early 2000s, Yucun village of Anji county, East China’s Zhejiang Province, decided to shut down local mines and to pursue green development. The village had gone through a period of breakneck economic development pursued at all costs. The before and after photos show Yucun village in the 1980s and on April 24, 2018. (Photos: Xinhua)

In Shangyu district of Shaoxing, East China’s Zhejiang Province, entrepreneurs converted nine abandoned and dilapidated old houses of 14 farmers into rural guest houses, which led to a booming rural tourism industry in the area. The photos show a well-decorated guest house before and after renovation.

The once impoverished Huayuan village in Dongyang, East China’s Zhejiang Province, has gained economic growth and a beautiful environment through years of endeavors in innovation. The photos show the village in 2006 and on June 27, 2018.

Cuihu Lake in East China’s Zhejiang, which used to be “black-and-stinky” water, has been built into a wetland park after ecological governance. The photos show Cuihu Lake on Feb 28, 2013 and Nov 13, 2015.

Wuzhen, a river town with a history of 1,300 years in East China’s Zhejiang Province, has become an intersection of culture, nature and environment, after proper development and protection. The photos show Wuzhen in 1999 and in 2018.

A wetland park built in the past few years in the Fenkou town of Chunan county, Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, adds beauty and charisma to the town. The photos show Fenkou town in 2008 and on April 3, 2018.

Xinjian village of Zhoushan, East China’s Zhejiang Province, has comprehensively improved its environment as a farming and fishing village and developed rural ecological tourism. The photos show the village in 2009 and on Aug 3, 2020. (Original story from Xinhua; translated by Song Zhe and edited by Zhan Huilan)