A Dahe villager tends to his one-square meter vegetable garden. [Photo/WeChat account: quzhoufb]

Eight villages in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province were recently named pilot areas for the construction of "beautiful countryside", according to the provincial department of culture and tourism.

Yudong village in Kecheng district

Yudong is renowned for its folk culture and art, especially its signature peasant painting, which has a history of more than 30 years. One third of Yudong villagers say they enjoy painting, the oldest of which is over 80.

Wall throughout the village have been painted with scenes of harvest and country life by local artists.

Houwu village in Kecheng district

Calligraphy is the pride of Houwu villagers, many of whom are highly adept with a brush pen. In early 2018, the village established its Calligraphers' Association, which offers its more than 30 members a place to practice calligraphy and exchange ideas.

Jianfeng village in Qujiang district

Jianfeng is home to numerous scenic spots, especially the ancestral halls of the Yu and Xu families, which were established in 1927 and 1679, respectively.

Dahe village in Jiangshan county-level city

What makes Dahe unique is the one-square meter vegetable gardens for each household. The carefully-tended gardens, surrounded by red stone walls, are planted with seasonal vegetables or fruits.