GUANGZHOU — Students at a primary school in Guangdong province were recently seen playing on a new soccer field, cheered on by their teachers.

In June last year, Guangdong's education department launched a project to improve sports facilities in rural primary schools and spent 15 million yuan ($2.15 million) in Yunfu city as part of the project.

Zhong Hua, head of the Zhongzhi branch of the Shuangdong subdistrict central primary school, said the old soccer field was made of sand and grass, the running tracks were uneven, there were stones scattered across the badminton court — which was difficult to sweep — and the old playground was dusty when it was windy. "In order to prevent children from breathing in too much dust, many sports activities were not possible," Zhong said.

Many rural schools in Guangdong previously lacked the funds to renovate old sports grounds, which hindered the development of rural physical education and sporting activities.

Last year, China launched a "double reduction" policy to ease the academic stress on schoolchildren. It has reduced excessive homework and curbed the frequency of exams and after-school tutoring. Since then, schools and families have placed greater emphasis on sports.

Upgrading sports facilities and improving the exercise environment for schoolchildren is now underway at many schools across the country.

By the end of June last year, sports grounds upgrade projects had been launched at 43 rural primary schools in Yunfu, including the Zhongzhi school, and all 43 have now been transformed.

Facilities such as badminton courts and fitness equipment have been added at some schools, and the renovations have enabled them to hold sporting events. As a result, students have become more enthusiastic about participating in sports.

"At the beginning of the new semester, the students said it was like coming to a new school, and that the stadium was beautiful. Now they can enjoy a brand-new playground," Zhong said.

The renovation of the Zhongzhi school's sports grounds cost 1.6 million yuan.

The work was supported by local residents. After the new playground was built, Sun Junjie and other parents of children at the school would stop by on weekends to help shovel construction waste.

"The stadium is clean and beautiful, and my child often tells me about how he plays soccer at school now," Sun said.