Rugao in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has promoted the development of distinctive rural industries as a way to pursue rural revitalization in recent years.

The city's Guzhuang community has been cultivating bonsai since the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). More than 160 households in the community make a living from it.

The community now has a planting area of nearly 3,000 mu (200 hectares) of flowers and trees, and the per capita annual net income exceeds 40,000 yuan ($5,795.38).

Rugao is enouraging more villages to join the bonsai industry, which is currently thriving in rural areas.

Annual transactions in the flower and tree bonsai industry in Daliuma of Daming community have reached 6 billion yuan, and Qianchang village's lawn planting area has exceeded 3,000 mu. It is known as "China's No 1 village of lawns".

Tourists go sightseeing in Pingyuanchi village, Rugao, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The lotus industry in Pingyuanchi village has increased the living standards of locals. More than 100 kinds of lotus flowers were introduced to its idle ponds, forming an ecological industrial chain including sightseeing, lotus seeds and lotus leaf tea.

In addition, the village has developed chrysanthemum, blueberry and rose plantations. Last year, the village's per capita income exceeded 30,000 yuan.