Each household in Yangzhuang has a beautiful courtyard filled with various potted flowers and green plants. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Yangzhuang village in Xianju, a county-level city in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, has been seeking to revitalize itself via the "three green systems" since 2017. 

The three green systems refer to green treaties, green currency, and green mediation. 

The green treaties are meant to increase civility among villagers by getting rid of outdated ideas and bad habits and encouraging them to participate in rural management, according to Lou Jianjun, head of Yangzhuang.

These treaties include 10 parts, mainly focusing on environmental protection, household garbage classification, courtyard renovation, and rural industrial development.

Green currency is an incentive used to award villagers who properly classify household garbage, improve courtyards, or volunteer to participate in rural management. 

Lou said that holders of green currency can use it as real money - one green coin is worth one yuan ($0.14) - at participating stores or exchange it for gifts at Villager Service Centers.

Green mediation refers to the combination of dispute mediation with efforts to improve the natural environment. For example, residents will be made to plant three trees for the village or do two days of community service as punishment for their quarrels or disputes. 

"After a three year trial, Yangzhuang village has changed into a civilized, clean, and beautiful garden village, as local villagers become more united and friendly and each household boasts a unique courtyard design," noted Lou.

Wang Aizhen is a 65-year-old Yangzhuang villager whose courtyard filled with flowers and green plants has won the admiration of local villagers. 

Wang is a lover of flowers and liked growing them in her courtyard together with her husband long before Yangzhuang piloted the three green systems. 

As an experienced flower grower, Wang volunteered to teach her neighbors how to grow them properly. Moreover, Wang is also one of the “green angels” in Yangzhuang - local female villagers volunteering to keep the village clean. 

"We usually clean the entire village at least once a month," said Wang, adding that the village is becoming increasingly beautiful, and as a result has improved their general mindset and outlook on life.