Visitors gather in a well‑restored ancient courtyard in Xiya village, Xianju county, Taizhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/The official news website of Taizhou]

Xianju county in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, is launching a program to promote common prosperity in traditional villages, prioritizing preservation and avoiding large-scale demolition and reconstruction of ancient villages. In Xiya village, Butou town, ancient residences have been restored using ancient techniques, preserving their original architectural features while adding supporting facilities such as parking areas.

The village has revitalized old courtyards by introducing more than 20 entrepreneurial projects, including common prosperity workshops, medicinal cuisine restaurants, and hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) photo services. It has also opened exhibition halls featuring salt culture and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Xiya village now receives more than 12,000 visits per month and has boosted annual collective income by more than 500,000 yuan (about $74,397). The program covers seven national-level traditional villages, linking them through coordinated protection and development.

Xianju county is forging a path that combines heritage conservation, industrial growth, and rural prosperity. It aims to further vitalize historic houses further further and convert cultural assets into new engines for rural development.