China's 10-year campaign to nourish rural school kids

Massive program boosts children's health, but rising prices limit results

20210706 Caixin school lunch 1 AP_120412063493

Kids have lunch at a primary school in southwest Guizhou province, China in 2012. The country's central government in 2011 initiated an unprecedented program designed to boost nutrition for children in the vast rural regions. © AP

HUANG HUIZHAO and HAN WEI, Caixin

July 7, 2021 11:01 JST

When the bell rings, hundreds of students flood into the canteen in the Longfu Primary School in Du'an county, where they will enjoy a free meal with hot rice, meat stew and vegetable stir-fry.

Deep in the mountains of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the outlying Du'an county has been plagued with poverty for decades and was known as one of the poorest places in China.