An aerial view of villages in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

Zhangjiagang, a county-level city in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, was recently rated as an outstanding city in terms of its efforts to promote rural vitalization for the third consecutive year.

The grain output in Zhangjiagang in 2022 reached 221,400 metric tons. One thousand and three hundred mu (86.7 hectares) of high-standard farmland, 3,005 mu of high-standard ponds and 8,000 mu of green vegetable fields were also built in the city.

Zhangjiagang has been using digital technologies to develop smart agriculture and smart villages. It added eight municipal-level smart villages and three smart agriculture brands last year.

For example, Danong (Suzhou) Agricultural Science and Technology Co, which is located in Zhangjiagang, has developed its own online platform through internet of things and other technologies to make the production of high-quality vegetables more efficient. The practice has also reduced costs related to manpower and other aspects.

The natural and living environment in Zhangjiagang's villages has also been improved. The city added two provincial-level idyllic villages last year.

Residents in rural areas now have access to better public services. Shuanglong village, for example, provides free haircutting services to more than 800 elderly people aged between 70 and 80 every year and invites art troupes to give performances every month.