Chen Enxiang (middle), Party chief of Liruo village, plays a key role in the village's transformation from a backward fishing hole to a popular tourism destination. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Formerly a poverty-stricken fishing village, Liruo has emerged as a popular tourism destination in Taizhou.

The village, situated in Shitang town in Wenling city, is built against a hillside and surrounded by the sea on three sides.

It has more than 380 households and a total of population of 1,100 people. Chen Enxiang, Party chief of the village, has played a key role in the village's transformation.

The village's annual income has risen from just over 100,000 yuan ($14,925.3) in 2008 to more than 300,000 yuan under the leadership of Chen.

Chen's first task after taking office was to clean up the garbage across the village. He and other young Party members in the village removed more than 200 tons of waste.

In a bid to develop rural tourism, two sightseeing platforms, a fishing dock and a home-based senior care service center have been constructed in Liruo since 2011.

Chen also explored local Red history and folk customs and rolled out a series of tourism projects, which proved hugely popular among visitors.

Now, Liruo attracts more than 100,000 tourists each year, which has boosted its collective economic income by 35 percent year-on-year.