A view of Fenhe River and neighboring communities in Taiyuan, Shanxi province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, is beefing up efforts to improve ecological conditions of Fenhe River in a bid to protect the environment and prevent natural disasters.
The city has carried out the fourth phase of Fenhe River treatment and beautification project. The project covers 10-kilometer river course and river bank, including a water storage section for flood control and an ecological enhancement section.
The fourth phase of Fenhe River treatment and beautification project received an investment of 1.48 billion yuan ($211.44 million) and is expected to be finished by the end of 2021.
Wen Shaohua, an official with Taiyuan Fenhe River Scenic Zone Management Committee, said the project allows Fenhe River to have the capacity to temporarily store flood waters during high runoff events. The ecological restoration section also helps improve habitats for various plants and animals, protects biodiversity, provides fresh air for neighboring residents, and adjusts climate.
A view of Fenhe River and neighboring communities in Taiyuan, Shanxi province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
According to local government officials, through the efforts of the first three phases of Fenhe River treatment and beautification project starting from 1998, plant types has increased to over 230 alongside the river bank, while about 78 kinds of aves have migrated across or inhabited in the Fenhe River Scenic Zone.
Shi Zhenyu, 47, has been living on the east bank of the river for decades. "Back in the 1990s, nobody wanted to live here because the water contained lots of urban wastes and would smell foul in the summer. There were also a lot of flies and mosquitoes in the area," Shi said.
"Now the environment is getting much better. Many people come to the river bank for a walk in the morning or after dinner. An increasing number of Taiyuan residents are choosing to buy apartments close to the river. The house price in my neighborhood, which is about 15 minutes walk from the river bank, has risen to about 13,000 yuan per square meter," Shi added.