Grants

In Delingha, those who aspire to start their own businesses are given grants and guidance by the local government, while other types of safety net have proliferated in the city to cushion the impact of illness and accidents that may hit the most vulnerable residents.

According to Wang, from the agriculture, animal husbandry and poverty relief bureau, one hallmark policy is the purchase of additional medical insurance programs for the impoverished.

The program, which began in 2017, is funded by provincial-level poverty alleviation funds, and it helped Delingha to lift all of its impoverished residents out of poverty by the end of the same year.

"With the new medical insurance, only 10 percent of medical expenses burdening poor villagers are paid out-of-pocket on average, greatly reducing the possibility of them slipping back into poverty," Wang said.