N China coal town gets new look

China's urban population for the first time exceeded its rural population in 2011. During this year's two sessions, the government stressed the importance of pushing forward urbanization across the country, which is considered to be a boost for domestic demand. Many rural areas in China have been rebuilt into new towns. More rural residents now have the chance to enjoy the benefits of urban life.

Wutong town is a major coal coking manufacturing base in China. It's located in the city of Xiaoyi in Shanxi Province. The new Wutong town is a model in the province for its urbanization through relocation of coal industries and rural residents. In the past, coal factories and residential houses mixed together. Factories couldn't expand while residents suffered from badly polluted air.

In 2010, the local government started to build a new residential area near the city of Xiaoyi. And an industrial park was built on the former land. More than 1,000 families have moved to the new residential area so far. And two thirds of residents in the town will move to the new place by the end of this year.

"Living here is much better than before. It's just like living in a city," Guo Qingtian, a resident in Wutong Town said. "The roads are better and cleaner, not like the muddy ones in the village. We have schools and hospitals nearby. Everything is so convenient."

The new residential area under construction takes up about 1.3 million square meters. It includes residential buildings, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, a job training center, culture center and commercial stores. The residents get compensation for their previous houses and land. Thus, they can afford apartments in the new residential area. They also have the privilege to work in the industrial park.