Zhejiang villages blossom with government effort

When I am on the eve of a business trip to cover an event in a rural area, I always pack some instant coffee. It's important I am able to satisfy my caffeine addiction and get my head straight to face a new day.

After all, chances are slim that I'll find freshly ground coffee in most villages. Yet, my trip to Jiaxing in late March made these preparations redundant.

A strong fragrance of coffee greeted my nose as I entered Lianfeng village in Nanhu district. The bar's rustic setting threw the features of its metallic coffee machine into sharp relief, while its wooden chairs and tables blended perfectly with the pastoral scene outside the window.