Environment protection has become a new engine to drive economic growth in Huizhou, a city in southeastern Guangdong province.

The city has made innovations investing in the development of the rural infrastructure, steering the city along a path that leads to increased economic growth, while maintaining prosperity and a good ecosystem.

After a comprehensive treatment, the once heavily-polluted Jinshan River flows peacefully through Huizhou city, Guangdong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The coastal city has carried out a comprehensive plan for controlling rural water pollution, covering domestic wastewater control, water resource protection, canal improvement, industrial wastewater treatment and water ecological culture publicity.

In the course of building a "beautiful village", Huizhou's Xinzuotang village has invested more than 70 million yuan ($10.16 million) to transform itself into a Lingnan-style water town with a focus on developing hi-tech agriculture.

Farm lands in Xinzuotang village used for crop breeding. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Building on the village's pure environment, the flourishing ecosystem, vast farms and orchards have improved the quality of life and brought about a relatively huge change in the outlook of rural areas as a whole.

Songshugang village has introduced seven small-sized rural domestic wastewater treatment facilities, completed a project to depollute the river and launched a project to green 1800-meter main country roads.

The new look of Songshugang village in Huizhou. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Songshugang village has also made the best of its natural resources. Situated at the foot of Luofu Mountain, a national 5A scenic spot, Songshugang has vigorously developed its rural tourism and services. The village now benefits from its green landscape and has achieved great results in developing eco-agriculture, bringing about local prosperity.