Annual review of public welfare in Pingyao

Pingyao has continued to adjust and carry out policies on social welfare in 2016 to improve the life of local residents.

The county has increased subsistence allowances for each resident in urban and rural areas, with urban residents receiving 450 yuan ($64.74) and rural residents 252.5 yuan per month. More than 7 million yuan has been given to 1,750 residents in the towns and some 10,120 households in the countryside have gotten some 24.50 million yuan.

To solve the housing problems of people living below the poverty line, the local government has initiated a new round of information collection about the housing situation across the county. More than 1,800 households have received subsidies from the government while renting properties.

Apart from completing social security systems, Pingyao authorities have advanced the reform of public hospitals. A comprehensive medical care system is under construction to balance the medical resources in urban and rural regions, letting all locals enjoy the same treatment in medical care services.

Pingyao has also committed itself to improving cultural infrastructure and education. A public cultural service network has furthered the ties between the towns and villages. Some 100 cultural performances have been staged in the countryside. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the county protects and promotes local cultural heritage as a priority.

The reconstruction of school buildings is also underway with several schools, such as Dongguan Primary School and Gutao No 2 Middle School, having moved to new sites. Meanwhile, education reforms continue in Pingyao. The county has been selected as the only provincial experimental county in Jinzhong city for enacting new standards on the management of compulsory education schools. Five local schools have been nationally recognized for their efforts in youth football training.