The Taohe River flows through Yangquan. [Photo/Yangquan Evening News]

The city of Yangquan in North China's Shanxi province has been promoting environmental treatment and strengthening ecological restoration and protection in recent years. 

According to the city's environment bureau, the local air quality has continued to improve. The proportion of days with good air quality in the urban area exceeded 70 percent for the first time in 2021. All nine black and odorous water bodies have been cleaned, and the quality of the national examination river section has exceeded 80 percent for two consecutive years.

Lotus flowers bloom in a park in Yangquan. [Photo/Yangquan Evening News]

The city's natural resource department has coordinated the promotion of urban and rural greening and beautification. In 2021, the city afforested 53 square kilometers of land. Local residents have voluntarily planted more than 2.8 million trees.

Next, Yangquan will pursue urban landscape greening and strive to build the Taohe River landscape belt.