As of August, the Guangxi Finance Department has allocated a total of 3.32 billion yuan ($496.57 million) in special funds for poverty-stricken areas in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in 2017, increasing by 1 billion yuan compared with last year's total.

The second batch of funding in 2017, totaling 2.03 billion yuan, has recently been given out to cities and counties in need. More than 90 percent of the money will go to projects for the poorest, said local officials.

Wei Meiyan, a villager from Qunle village, Longwan town in Du'an Yao autonomous county works at a granadilla orchard which is part of local poverty alleviation project, Sept 27, 2017. [Photo by Lu Bo'an/Xinhua News Agency]

Photo taken on Sept 26, 2017 shows the construction of new residential buildings for villagers in Xia'ao town, Du'an Yao autonomous county. [Photo by Lu Bo'an/Xinhua News Agency]