Some of the well-preserved traditional architecture in Henggang village. [Photo/Tide News]

Henggang village — located in Zhuyuan township, Songyang county, Lishui, Zhejiang province — recently completed selling its ecological assets for 9.38 million yuan ($1.31 million).

This marked China's inaugural transaction of ecological assets from a traditional village, with funds designated for village preservation and community development.

The sale was conducted through the Zhejiang (Lishui) Ecological Product Trading Platform. Fan Wei, the platform's director, said that the process involved consolidating the village's diverse ecological resources — including its architectural heritage, environmental assets, and cultural tourism potential — into a single economic valuation.

This innovative method converts ecological resources into economically valuable products.

The transaction includes rights to 72 buildings in Henggang village, along with facilities such as cattle sheds and grain storage. It also covers natural resources like water conservation, soil retention, and air and water purification, as well as cultural services like tourism and recreation.

An evaluation by the Zhejiang University of Technology's Joint Research Center for Green Development estimated the village's ecological assets at 10.36 million yuan, highlighting its significant indirect resource value.

Ying Haoxiang, deputy general manager of Songyang County Cultural Tourism Development Investment Group, said that they planned to develop the village's ecological assets into a unique rural tourism brand.

Songyang county is a national model for traditional village preservation, with 78 nationally recognized traditional villages — the most in the province.