In the deep of Taihang Mountains, Zhaohechi village was once a place where 53 villagers suffered severe water shortage for years, with rainfall being the only source of drinking and farming water.

In 2015, the village built a water storage tank to solve the water shortage but this failed due to the small amount of rainfall.

The turning point came in 2017 when Huguan county decided to relocate 184 villagers from Zhaohechi and three other villages to Shuzhang town, a move which promised much better living conditions.

The relocation is now underway, with newly built houses having been allocated to these villagers who, at the end of July, will move out of the mountains and away from a water-scarce life.

Huguan county has so far relocated 4,925 residents from undeveloped areas to better-off places since 2016.

To solve villagers' livelihoods after relocation, the county government has also offered relocated villages industrial supporting funds focusing on the development of photovoltaic, flower and traditional Chinese medicine planting, farming and rural tourism sectors.

Two villagers check a water storage tank built in 2015 in Zhaohechi village, Huguan county, Shanxi province, May 22. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Heping shows the muddy water fetched from the water storage tank in Zhaohechi village, May 23. [Photo/Xinhua]