Green projects help improve lives in capital

As a vital component of Beijing's growth, ecological conservation sits as a top priority within the development plan of the capital.

Such a focus is in tune with the Resolution on the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in mid-July, which stressed that Chinese modernization is that of harmony between humanity and nature.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Beijing has made substantial progress on the ecological front, with more than 1,000 parks dotted over the city, rivers and canals restored, and its air quality management efforts recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme as a model for other cities to follow.

For the national capital, green development is crucial to its growth and residents' well-being, local officials said.

Government data show that Beijing is home to 1,065 parks, including more than 610 "pocket parks", scattered like gems in neighborhoods across the city.

Currently, more than 90 percent of Beijing residents have access to a park or green space within 500 meters in a straight-line distance from their homes.

A scenic overlook at the Nanyuan Forest and Wetland Park in southern Beijing officially opened to the public in May. It overlooks the park which spans more than 6 million square meters, equivalent to at least 840 standard soccer fields.

Beijing has completed two rounds of 667-square-kilometer afforestation and greening projects since 2012. The move helped the city's total forested area to exceed 8,527 sq km in 2023, with coverage expanding to 44.9 percent.

In addition, more than 40 greenway projects have been completed in Beijing, with a combined length reaching 1,465 km, equivalent to the linear distance between Beijing and Chongqing in Southwest China.

The expanded greenway network has assisted mass sports and recreational activities and allowed for a healthier lifestyle. Many Beijing residents have incorporated jogging, tai chi or other morning exercise into their daily routine.

The forests have brightened the city's skyline, with blue skies and white clouds becoming part of the regular scenery. Air quality is also continuing to improve. Statistics from the Beijing Ecology and Environment Bureau show that in the first half of this year, the cumulative concentration of PM2.5 — particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less — in Beijing was 34 micrograms per cubic meter, an 8.1 percent drop compared to the same period of 2023.