3. Improved quality of life

Visitors pose at a glass-bottomed bridge in a scenic spot in Pingjiang county, Hunan province, May 27, 2015. [Photo/Asianewsphoto.com]

The per capita consumption expenditure reached 17,111 yuan in 2016, an increase of 4,255 yuan, or an annual average growth of 7.4 percent from 2012.

The consumption structure has upgraded rapidly. Expenditures on transportation and communication rose 2 percentage points from 2012. Expenditures on education, culture and entertainment increased 0.7 percentage points while medical services and health spending picked up 1.3 percentage points.

Car ownership per 100 households was 27.7 units in 2016, an increase of 63.9 percent from 2013. The number of domestic tourists totaled 4.44 billion in 2016, an increase of 50.2 percent from 2012. The number of outbound tourists amounted to 122 million, surging 46.7 percent.