The Xinbu village in Shunde of Guangdong province was set up as the first energy-saving demonstration village in China way back in 1980.

The village, located in the Leliu town of Shunde, was typical of the Pearl River Delta, rich in fish, silk and sugarcane.

For years, the lack of animal feed and fuel had been a big problem for the farmers in the village, with each household having to travel 50 kilometers to Guangzhou to purchase coal.

Another big headache was poor sanitation and hygiene management, causing parasites to become a common problem.

However, in 1980 big changes occurred after the local government and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), during the period of the sixth Five-Year Plan (1981-85), made plans to turn the village into an eco-demonstration zone.

Under the cooperation, the village solved many of its energy problems by using bio-gas fueled by the manure of farm animals, solar energy and firewood-saving stoves.

As a result, the village's thermal energy efficiency doubled. Houses were supplied with solar water heaters and new-energy generators to cover more than half of domestic energy needs.

A main 12 kilowatt bio-gas generator was set up in the village allowing for a continuous supply of electricity for lighting and TV.

The use of the bio-gas for electricity also solved the village's parasite problems and allowed for a cleaner and more hygienic environment for the cultivation of livestock.

Xinbu village drew attention and praise of agricultural ecologists from the United Nations in 1982. The demonstration village passed the check by the CAS in 1985 and was awarded by the CAS in 1992 for its breakthroughs in the sixth Five-Year Plan period.