Smiles and laughter are what struck journalists most vividly during a recent visit to Jiajia village in Lvliang, Shanxi province on Sept 22. A delegation of some 59 reporters from online media agencies toured the village to explore its development and report on its progress.

Pailou, a memorial archway, stands at the entrance of an ecological park in Jiajia village, Fenyang county, Lvliang, Shanxi province. [Photo/sxrb.com]

Jiajia village is one of Shanxi's greatest small success stories. Having once been a desolate, economically disadvantaged area with infertile soil, the village has transformed itself over the years to become quite a powerhouse in the local area, greatly improving the social welfare and happiness of its residents.

The 4.2-square-kilometer village was barren 60 years ago. In 1952, the locals had had enough, and established an agricultural cooperative aimed at working together to improve the sterile farmland.

The power of the masses working together proved to be an effective force in agriculture and quickly spread to other areas, such as commerce, light and heavy industries. Currently, there are four main backbones of Jiajia's economic wealth, supporting almost 3,000 people, that is agriculture, construction, liquor production, and tourism.

As of 2015, the village as a whole made 250 million yuan ($37.51 million) in revenue, generating 50 million yuan in profit and taxes, with each villager taking home an average net income of more than 15,000 yuan.

"The rags-to-riches story of Jiajia village symbolizes the development of China. The well-being of villagers here is the direct result of years of hard work," said Wang Kun, an editor at cnwest.com, during a visit to the local history museum.

Journalists and editors from online media outlets visit the history museum in Jiajia village on Sept 22. [Photo/sxrb.com]

Economic prosperity has fed into the cultural sector of the village with money freed up to be spent on projects such as the development of an industrial cultural creative park, Hengdin, which includes a painting and calligraphy and leisure area.

Most notably, son of Linfen county, renowned filmmaker, Jia Zhangke, received approval in March earlier this year to build an artistic center to boost local cultural development.

The cultural heart of the village still remains the simple original folk edifices of Gu Street, a row of shops and restaurants built in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). It is on this street that many of the oldest and most recognized cultural heritages are preserved and live on, such as traditional specialties like Fenzhou mung bean cake, handmade soaps and Xiaoyi shadow play.

Internet reporters taste delicacies and chat with locals in Gu Street, Jiajia village on Sept 22, experiencing the local folk culture. [Photo/sxrb.com]

Dong Haotian, a journalist from hebnews.cn, said, "I'm touched by their enthusiasm, satisfaction and pride in their hometown. When I was talking with merchants and craftsmen in the street and listening about the creative parks, I could see how content they all were."

Reporters take photos of an LED horse at the Jiajia village light festival on the evening of Sept 22. [Photo/sxrb.com]