Photos: Vanishing ancient villages of China

In Dachang village, Yu county, Shanxi province, 78-year-old villager Liu Qiaoxiu tidies up the prickly ash in her yard. She says her hometown has seen a rise in the number of tourists in recent years and her business of local specialties is going well. [Photo/Xinhua]

Due to fast urbanization of the country, traditional villages are facing an unprecedented challenge to survive. According to statistics by the Housing Construction Department, the number of unincorporated villages in the country saw a sharp decline from 4,200,000 in 1984 to 2,670,000 in 2012. It means that around 55,000 villages vanished from the earth every year.

In the National New Urbanization Plan (2014-2020), traditional village protection and rejuvenation has been put under the spotlight. Besides maintaining the basic function of the villages, protecting its cultural heritage is highlighted. A comprehensive combination of the old lifestyle and the modern civilization is the focus of the plan.