A beautiful courtyard with characteristic wall paintings in Quanyi village, Huzhou city, Zhejiang province. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By ZHONG Jianli 

China's Standardization Administration recently issued a national standard for building "Beautiful Courtyards" in the countryside, marking a significant milestone in the nation's ongoing efforts to promote rural revitalization and build a "Beautiful China."

Drawing from the successful experiences of Anji, a county in Zhejiang province, east China, in building beautiful courtyards, the standard aims to advance new models and pathways for rural development. It is a benchmark for the construction, renovation and management of "Beautiful Courtyards" across the country.

The standard combines relevant policy documents to specify requirements for the layout, appearance, environmental hygiene, family ethics and long-term management of the courtyards. It is also meant to facilitate a courtyard economy.

Regarding courtyards' aesthetic environment, the standard advocates efficient land use. It emphasizes rational planning of space for living, production, leisure and culture, as well as designs that integrate local customs and household needs, harmonizing them with village planning, and the surrounding landscapes and ecological environments.

The standard also highlights the cultural essence of "Beautiful Courtyards," calling for courtyard owners to uphold social ethics, and encouraging environment-friendly practices while promoting good family culture and fostering harmonious neighborly relations.

To develop a courtyard economy, the standard calls for the cultivation of cash plants, flowers and trees in courtyards. It also promotes the development of specialty handicrafts and intangible cultural heritage workshops, and the establishment of distinctive rural inns or leisure farms.

Furthermore, it encourages the use of courtyards for the promotion of new business models, such as e-commerce, livestreaming sales and express delivery agencies.

By fostering economic growth and cultural enrichment across the nation's countryside, the standard will be a key instrument for a more prosperous, harmonious and visually appealing rural landscape across China.