Chen Gang works as a home renovator in Zhongzhai Town, Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County of Tongren City, in southwest China's Guizhou Province. Living in a spacious and bright three-story building with his family, the industrious man has a steady income. It is hard to imagine that he used to worry about where his next meal will come from just a few years ago.

At that time, he lived in Daping Village, more than 10 kilometers from Zhongzhai, and grew corn for a paltry income. Located in the Mayang River National Nature Reserve, Daping Village sits in the steep mountains at an elevation of 1,800 meters, where wild Francois' monkeys are commonly seen. Since the country started returning farmland to forests, more and more Francois' monkeys were found in the place.

To the villagers, the naughty monkeys are both their old neighbors and big trouble. Chen's cornfields were ravaged from time to time. "They never eat up a whole ear of corn. They just break it off, take a bite, throw it away and break another one," said Chen.

To protect the ecological environment while alleviating poverty, the government proactively carried out relocation policy by moving residents to Zhongzhai in batches in early 2017.

The policy has brought earth-shattering changes to Chen and other villagers. In accordance with the principle of "livability" and "farming adaptability," the goal was not just to relocate villagers but to make their lives better and solve practical problems after the move.

The first thing is to settle down. Using state subsidies, Zhongzhai set up many resettlement sites. Rows of white houses were built. Chen's family moved into the three-story house, and their living conditions have greatly improved.

The mountain roads were steep and rugged in Daping. Children had to walk for five kilometers over one hour to school. And during rainy days, falls were frequent occurrences. Now the children from the relocated households can go to a school that's only about 100 meters away, with more qualified teachers and better facilities.

The happiest thing for Chen and his fellow villagers is that they have finally shaken off poverty after years of hoping. The town government provides free training courses on various working skills. Having learned how to renovate a house, Chen's monthly income is about 3,000 yuan. His wife also found a job in the nearby tea mountain.

"The policy of relocating has lifted us out of poverty. Had I stayed in my hometown, I couldn't even imagine living a life like this," says Chen.

The implementation of policies has allowed relocated villagers to lead more fulfilling lives and has given Francois' monkeys a better environment in the nature reserve. There are about 2,000 wild Francois' monkeys in the world, of which around 730 inhabit the Mayang River Nature Reserve. As being neighbors with Francois' monkeys become a thing of the past, people from Daping Village are embracing the new life they have hoped for.