Manas has been the most affluent county in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. The per capita income reached 5,318 yuan (8.27 yuan against US dollar) in 2002. Yet some households in the county are still living in poverty. To get them rid of poverty, the county government has launched a poverty alleviation project, which has involved some 160 government institntions, enterprises, schools and other units. An official review on the project last year found that good results had been achieved in poverty alleviation. In 2002 alone, 199 households had been helped to shake off the poverty and move towards a relatively comfortable life. Manas has been the most affluent county in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China. The per capita income reached 5,318 yuan (8.27 yuan against US dollar) in 2002. Yet some households in the county are still living in poverty. To get them rid of poverty, the county government has launched a poverty alleviation project, which has involved 160 government instittions, enterprises, schools and other units. An official review on the project last year found that good results had been achieved in poverty alleviation. In 2002 alone, 199 households had been helped to shake off the poverty and move towards a relatively comfortable life.