Ensuring locals have sufficient heating, essential supplies and safe food was prioritized during Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Yuncheng City, north China's Shanxi Province on Sunday, according to a release on the State Council's website. 

Local heating solutions praised

During his visit to Wucun Village, Miaoqian Town of Xiaxian County, Yuncheng City, Premier Li praised a local policy which helps ensure residents have effective heating systems. 

Every household in the village has planted fruit trees and uses biomass boilers for warmth, thanks to national policy support, according to the release, and branches trimmed from fruit trees and straw pellet are used as fuel for heating.

Li applauded the solution, noting the reform takes advantage of local materials. It not only secured heating for villagers in winter, but also helped reduce pollution and protect the environment, he said.

Sufficient supplies and food safety urged

Premier Li stressed the importance of sufficient essential supplies and food safety during his visit to a Spring Festival market in Dongguo Town, Yanhu District in Yuncheng City.

The Chinese premier first stopped at a stall selling steamed breads with colorful patterns, learned about local Lunar New Year customs and then bought two steamed breads decorated with the Chinese character "福," which means good fortune.

He also bought several boxes of cakes and pastries, and two locally-grown apples at nearby stalls. Hearing that Yuncheng had a long history of woodcut New Year paintings, the premier purchased two paintings of the character "福."

The Year of the Ox is approaching, and the Year of the Ox and the Year of the Horse are the best time for plowing, as an old saying goes, Li said to people around him, before wishing a bumper harvest in the coming year.