Sisters Wang Li and Wang Qiu in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Guizhou province, pose for a photo with their hand-made birdcages. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, has committed to helping fight poverty in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Guizhou province as part of the city's targeted alleviation program.

Hangzhou has set aside more than 1 billion yuan ($141 million), and sent more than 1,000 officials and technical workers to Qiandongnan in a bid to help the region eliminate poverty since 2013.

The number of impoverished people in Qiandongnan has been reduced from 1.2 million in 2013 to 48,640 people in 2020, with the rate of poverty decreasing from 30.1 percent to 1.19 percent.

Thirteen out of 15 nationally-designated impoverished counties have now been lifted out of poverty, and the remaining two impoverished counties are expected to be free from its shackles soon.

A number of local representatives in Qiandongnan have been recognized for their successful efforts to increase incomes in a recent interview campaign organized by the Hangzhou government.

A delegation from Hangzhou visits a low-income resident of Rongjiang county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Guizhou province, on May 20. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Sisters Wang Li and Wang Qiu are two examples of people who, along with their fellow villagers, have managed to lift themselves out of poverty by hand-making birdcages.

Kala village, where the sisters live, is known for its long history of handmade birdcages.

Birdcage-making has now become a pillar industry of the village and has brought in a lot of wealth.

Around 125 households are now engaged in birdcage-making, which brings in an average income of 200 yuan ($28.26) per resident per day.

Many people visit the village to try their hands at making birdcages, and a wide array of cultural products related to the birdcages are sold to tourists.