Gansu Province is one of China's poorest regions. Yet over five million people there have been lifted out of poverty since 2012. One solution has been to teach them how to make an iconic regional snack that has won over foodies across China — Lanzhou Beef Soup Noodle. Xu Xinchen reports from the provincial capital Lanzhou.

41-year-old Zhang Liming has spent half his life making Lanzhou beef noodle soup — an iconic regional treat found in Northwestern China. For a skilled noodle chef like him, he can make five bowls of noodles every minute. His entire shop can sell 4,000 bowls daily. Zhang needs to arrive at the shop around dawn and wrap up around 3 in the afternoon — his only days off come during the Chinese New Year. He is very blunt when asked the reason he chose this job -- he did not do well in school but needed to feed himself. With touches of enthusiasm, he is now making enough money to feed a family of three.

ZHANG LIMING, NOODLE CHEF MAZILU BEEF NOODLE "There are chefs who can make noodles beautifully and their techniques look like floating clouds and flowing water — very smooth. I work hard to achieve that."

Patience is equally important.

ZHANG LIMING, NOODLE CHEF MAZILU BEEF NOODLE "It is not easy to make noodles. You cannot just act on your impulse to decide to learn it and quit in one or two months when your interest dies down."

In the city of Lanzhou alone, there are over 1500 noodle shops with an annual turnover of some 2 billion yuan, that's almost 300 million U.S. dollars. A crucial industry to help the region — one of the poorest in China — to eliminate poverty. Lanzhou beef noodles are also expanding to other parts of the country — a nationwide market of almost 10 billion U.S. dollars. But what makes Lanzhou beef noodle soup taste good and unique are chefs from the region. Training classes are established to train more noodle masters — for people from poverty stricken areas — the courses are free.

ZHANG GUIMEI, HEADMASTER GANSU XINGLONG LANZHOU BEEF NOODLE SOUP VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL "We also take classes out to mountain areas, farmlands as well as local communities."

Zhang Guimei is the headmaster for a local Lanzhou beef noodle soup vocational training school. In the past five years, her school has taught some 2500 low-income individuals every year and 90% of them were able to find better-paying jobs. In addition to jobs, these training courses also help them better understand society.

ZHANG GUIMEI, HEADMASTER GANSU XINGLONG LANZHOU BEEF NOODLE SOUP VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL "A lot of people from poverty stricken areas spend most of their busy lives farming. Their awareness of the country's policies and regulations grow thin. Besides training them with skills, we also help improve their awareness of laws and safety."

China aims to eliminate all extreme poverty by next year, and local governments are betting on Lanzhou beef noodle soups to help continue to win this battle. 500 more noodle shops are planned to open this year across Gansu Province plus another 1,000 in other places. Yet, Zhang Liming warns — while making noodles helped him stand on his feet, persistence is the key — governmental policies and efforts may be in vain if people are not willing for a change. Xu Xinchen, CGTN, Lanzhou, Gansu Province.