The southwestern Shanxi city of Hejin, which literally means "ferry port along the Yellow River", is transforming into a green development model, making itself an attractive destination for tourists and ideal home for residents.

The transformation began in 2019 with the completion of the Hejin section of the Yellow River No 1 Road.

Stretching more than 1,200 kilometers from north to south along the river, the Yellow River No 1 is a major sightseeing highway in Shanxi province.

In Hejin, the road is a combination of a 31.8-km motorway and a 14-km path for cyclists. The entire road constitutes a scenic belt along the Yellow River that links a number of attractions including the Grand Ladder Cliff, Dragon Gate, Cangtou ancient village, Gaomei Temple and General Xue Rengui's Cave Residence, as well as a string of wetland parks.

The area along the road is also an ecological corridor consisting of wetlands, rivers, lakes and farmland. It offers an ideal habitat for such wild birds as white egrets, cranes and herons.

Li Hui, head of the Yellow River Promotional Center in Hejin, said the ecological corridor cost a total investment of 360 million yuan ($51.66 million) in its initial phase. In recent years, there was an additional investment of 180 million yuan in developing green spaces, building gardens, pavilions and sightseeing facilities. The total area of greenery along the corridor amounts to 1.5 million square meters.

The official said the big investment in developing the ecological corridor shows the local government's determination in environmental protection. "We are protecting the environment like protecting our eyes," he said.

This determination is also demonstrated by the efforts in improving the environment in other areas, including the mountains, urban areas and countryside.

The city has marked 47.3 sq km of land as ecological protection zones, increased its urban vegetation coverage to 40 percent and built a number of sewage treatment facilities.

Industrial development is also subject to strict environmental standards. Sunshine Group, for instance, is a major coking company in Hejin that has upgraded its operations toward clean and efficient production.

"Thanks to the use of new techniques, new technologies and new equipment, we have realized zero discharges of wastewater, solid waste and waste gas," said an executive of the company.

In addition to the manufacturing sector, the rural areas of Hejin are gearing up to green development as well.

Local statistics show that a total of 500 million yuan has been invested in building sewage treatment facilities in villages, fundamentally changing the living environment for residents.

By Yuan Shenggao
Zhang Haiying contributed to this story.