In Shandong, a project to protect villages to maintain a place for people recalling rural life was jointly launched in 2014 by nine provincial departments including Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and Shandong Provincial Publicity Department.

The project aims to protect tangible heritage including ancient streets, houses and production tools as well as intangible cultural heritage. Museums will be built in the villages.

Tourists visit the folk art museum in Zhujiayu village, Zhangqiu, Shandong province. Photo by Ju Chuanjiang

The project is included into Shandong's government report.

The coastal city of Rongcheng has 317 traditional villages under protection.

More than 20,000 seaweed houses in Rongcheng were built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Due to inconvenient transportation and out-of-date infrastructure, ancient villages seem to be left behind by modern life. This makes protection work a challenge and tourism may be the best choice for protecting them.

Zhujiayu village in Zhangqiu in Shandong's capital city Jinan, has a history of more than 600 years. The village has become a local tourist attraction. The streets, old houses and old spinning wheel offer tourists a place to enjoy ancient village life.

Last year, 100,000 people visitors visited Zhujiayu Village, generating one million yuan in revenue.

Jingtang village in Qingzhou, Shandong province, has a history of 500 years. The local government has invested more than 40 million yuan to reconstruct the village. More than 30,000 people have visited every year since its opening in 2012.