Linyi, a city in southeast Shandong province, has spared no efforts to boost cultural poverty-relief projects in recent times.

Shandong province has more than 7,000 poverty-affected villages, and in Linyi, its cultural department has vigorously explored local heritage resources in order to help rural people increase their incomes.

Visitors admire the intangible cultural heritage of wicker in China Willow Weaving Culture Art Museum in Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

They poured their focus into e-commerce and non-intangible heritage products, developed industry patterns integrating Internet Plus with traditional handicrafts, and created more job opportunities for rural people.

Thanks to the efforts, the number of poverty-affected villages in Linyi has fallen from 992 to 568, providing a better livelihood for some 450,000 people.

Village people make Chinese knots in a workshop of an e-commerce business in Honghua town of Linyi city, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]