A view of Hongyang village, Ninghai county, Ningbo. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

Five villages from Ninbgo in East China's Zhejiang province were recently included in a provincial traditional village protection and utilization program.

The villages will each be granted a maximum of 7 million yuan ($1.07 million) in government subsidies to restore traditional architecture, promote traditional culture and optimize the living environment.

The villages are: Shagang village in Haishu district, Renjiaxi village in Cixi city, Lushanshi village in Yuyao city, Hongyang village in Ninghai county and Fan’ao village in Xiangshan.

Situated next to Shuangfeng Forest Park, Hongyang village has a history of more than 700 years and administers three unincorporated villages. It is renowned for its production of bamboo shoots and tea.

Renjiaxi village has long been a land of idyllic beauty. Its history dates back to the Ming Dynasty, as evidenced by an essay by Zheng Zhen, a litterateur from that dynasty.

Lushanshi village, which is located 27km from urban Ningbo, administers the Langshuqiao unincorporated village, which is primarily inhabited by descendants of Qian Liu.

Qian was the founder and first king of the Kingdom of Wuyue (907-978) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, ruling over modern Zhejiang on the east coast of China.