The Jinyang Bridge stretches over the Fenhe River, in 2019 [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

The urban and rural areas of Taiyuan city, capital of North China's Shanxi province, have taken on a completely new look over the past century -- with their transformation continuing apace in recent years -- under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and through the joint efforts of its local residents. 

In the urban areas, the treatment and beautification project targeting the Fenhe River has been extended to 33 kilometers and the treatment of the nine tributaries of the Fenhe River in the Taiyuan section has been completed. The formerly black and odorous stretches of water in the built-up areas have been cleaned up.

The Yingze Bridge spans the Fenhe River, in 1980. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

The renovation of Yingze Park has been completed, while the first phase of Jinyang Lake Park has been opened to the public. 

From 2011 to 2017, Taiyuan completed 26,990 hectares of afforestation in the East and West mountains and established 30 suburban forest parks and ecological parks. The 229.5-kilometer tourist ring road connecting the East and West mountains has linked traditional villages, agricultural tourist sites and suburban forest parks along the thoroughfare. 

An aerial view of Yuquan Mountain Forest Park in Taiyuan. The mountain was barren and ecologically fragile before afforestation and environmental treatment. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Elsewhere, Taiyuan Wusu International Airport has entered the ranks of large and busy airports in China, while the Zhengzhou-Taiyuan High-speed Railway and the Southwest Loop Line of the Taiyuan Railway Hub have gone into use. The rail hub function of Taiyuan South Railway Station has been fully upgraded and Metro Line 2 has started operating.

Fenhe River-crossing bridges and expressway systems, such as the south extension of Binhe East and West roads and Jinyang Avenue, have been efficiently interconnected. 

Meanwhile, the living standards of urban and rural residents have improved tremendously over the past five years. All 160 impoverished villages under Taiyuan's administration and 55,992 impoverished people have been lifted out of poverty.

The incomes of the city's residents have increased simultaneously, with the per capita disposable incomes of urban and rural residents in 2020 reaching 38,329 yuan ($5,956) and 19,655 yuan, respectively.

Educational and medical resources have been greatly improved. The coverage rate of kindergartens has reached 93.7 percent, while the number of medical beds per 1,000 people has reached 8.82 and the standard of community home-based senior care services is now at the forefront of China.