Northern China's Shanxi Province lies in a mountainous area which is home to many poverty-stricken households. In order to shake off poverty, many have left and started life anew elsewhere. CGTN reporter Hu Chao visited one county to find out how locals are taking on the challenge.

Over 100 villages scattered in the deep mountains, this was a contiguous and extremely poor area in Kelan County of northern China's Shanxi Province.

Most villages each had less than 50 residents. Transportation, drinking water, education and medical service were all barely available. Over half of the houses were dangerous buildings.

Local government believed relocating the people was the best way to tackle poverty. The arduous task started in June of 2017, involving 3,000 government staff and more than 4,000 villagers.

Those involved say convincing them to move was the hardest part.

Government worker Sun Yongping felt discouraged when many villagers refused to move. But township government officials pleaded with him.

Sun and his colleagues explained all the benefits of relocation to ease villager concerns. With various subsidies, they won't pay extra money for their new apartments and can even save some money. Eventually, it took four months to convince all the villagers to move. Zhao Jia Wa village was among the first to move. Selling livestock, sweeping tombs of their deceased loved ones, cleaning the yard for the last time and picking up every grain from the ground, a farewell to their old life.

"I've lived here for forty-four years. Shabby as my house is, it's hard to leave."

However, the old houses had to be dismantled to make more land for reforestation. The new residential area is less than an hour away by car. Many government staff helped with the moving and took care of the elderly. Now all the villagers have moved into new homes. Liu Fuyou and his wife's new place is around 80 square meters.

LIU FUYOU, FORMER RESIDENT OF ZHAO JIA WA VILLAGE KELAN COUNTY, SHANXI PROVINCE "I don't want to go back to my old house anymore. Life here is so much better than in the village. Everything is convenient."

This year Kelan County has officially announced it has gotten out of poverty. But for the local government, employment is the new challenge. They have offered various favorable policies to bring in new factories, creating lots of job opportunities. So far 78% of the relocated villagers have found jobs.

ZHAO LISHENG, DIRECTOR OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION OFFICE KELAN COUNTY, SHANXI PROVINCE "Our job isn't finished yet. We still have to do more to boost the local economy. We hope to create more job opportunities by setting up some home service companies and also developing the local tourism industry."

HU CHAO KELAN COUNTY, SHANXI PROVINCE "This is the area where the Zhaojiawa village used to be. As you can see, after demolition, those previously scattered lands have been reclaimed for large-scale cultivation of economic forests. These trees have brought more income to the villagers and also turned the barren mountains green."

For 73-year-old Liu, with benefits from his past land and government subsidies, he still works to clean the street. He now earns nearly 3,000 yuan a month, more than twice his old income.

LIU FUYOU, FORMER RESIDENT OF ZHAO JIA WA VILLAGE KELAN COUNTY, SHANXI PROVINCE "A Happy life is created by hands. Our nation has helped us get rid of poverty. Now it's time we make our own efforts and keep up with good work."

Hu Chao, CGTN, Kelan County, Shanxi Province.