The towns of Runcheng, Dazhai, and Xinghuacun in Shanxi province have been classified as nationally distinctive by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), for their living environment, tourism and culture.

The towns were named among 124 others, with Zhejiang province ranking first with eight of its towns making the list, followed by Shandong, Jiangsu, and Sichuan.

For the towns rated as distinctive, the central government will provide rewards and funds in carrying out projects that are beneficial to further development, according to the director of Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in Shanxi.

The MOHURD plans to foster some 1,000 distinctive towns in China with uniqueness in tourism, trade, logistics, manufacturing, education, culture or technology by 2020.