CRI听力:New Village Construction in Wuqing County

Several years ago, the central government of China mapped out a strategy on "building a new socialist countryside" to narrow the gap between rural and urban development.

With their efforts, farmers are living a better life.

Our reporter, Zhang Ru, takes a look at some villages in North China's Tianjin Municipality

In many big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, city dwellers can not afford to buy an apartment even with only one bedroom.

But 56-year-old- Gao Nailin, a farmer from Xiazhuzhuang Subdistrict in Tianjin, says he owns four apartments thanks to a land consolidation program.

"I had two bungalows before. One is 60 square meters, and the other is 100 square meters. Now I have four apartments, one for me and my wife, one for my son and the other two stay idle."

Xiazhuzhuang Subdistrict is composed of 13 villages, with a population of about 10,700. Under the backdrop of "building new socialist countryside," the local government started a program to relocate villagers to new buildings.

The government demolished villagers' bungalows and offered them apartments with the same area of their bungalows for free. If they wanted to move into bigger apartments, they can purchase them at a price that is more than 50 percent lower than the market price.

Gao Nailin and his wife moved into their new apartment in the same area in 2009, which used to be the land of three villages in Xiazhuzhuang Subdistrict.

The neighborhood looks the same as in cities. The amateur orchestra composed by local villagers is practicing at the activity center. Elderly ladies are dancing in an outdoor space.

Gao says his living standards have improved since moving into the new home.

"The apartments are much better than my old bungalows. The living environment and facilities have been improved. Now we have tap water and recycled water systems, heating system as well as a natural gas system here."

In Gao's living room, there is a 42-inch LCD TV and air conditioner. Gao says he is planning to buy a new car at about 200,000 yuan, about 30,870 US dollars.

Decades ago, rural workers believed they could only rely on farming to make a living. But their income only met their basic needs.

To improve rural residents' lives, many local governments developed industry.

It takes 40 minutes to drive from Xiazhuzhuang to downtown Tianjin, nearby Beijing. Making full use of its geographic advantages, the local government built industrial zones on farm-land and gave farmers' subsidies or shares as compensation.

In China, farmland is under collective ownership, the farmland is owned by the entire village or township.

Then how to re-employ land-loss farmers became a key problem.

Jin Zhaoxing, vice-head of Xiazhuzhuang Subdistrict, says urbanization offers rural labors more job opportunities.

"We offer vocational training to able-bodied farmers who left their farmland. The industrial zone, commercial area and agriculture demonstration park need 15,000 laborers. Now two-thirds of them are from other districts. It's easy for land-loss farmers to find a job here."

Jin adds farmers above 60 years old can enjoy pension insurance of about 1,280 yuan or 200 US dollars every month. The pension will increase with their age.

The village people's monthly income is 2,000 yuan, about 300 US dollars.

Rural residents there enjoy similar health care insurance as their urban counterparts.

70-year-old Cao Bochuan comes from the neighboring Hui Guokou village. He says if elderly people don't want to live with their children, they can move to nursing homes for free.

"Elderly people above 65 years-old can move to nursing homes in our village for free. The facilities are very good. All rooms have air conditioners, heating systems and TV sets."

Cao says his village attaches importance to education. Students, who are admitted to universities, will get a reward of 10,000 yuan and postgraduate students can get 15,000 yuan.

China's rural areas have been developing quickly under the backdrop of new socialist countryside construction. By taking a glimpse of these villages in Tianjin people can see how China's countryside has been transformed.

For CRI, I am Zhang Ru.