Siming district in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 2019, the district ranked among the highest in Xiamen in terms of air quality improvement. From January to September 2020, its rate of excellent air quality was 71.5 percent, while its rate of good air quality was 100 percent. Its air quality comprehensive index was 2.25, ranking first in Xiamen.

The district has taken a series of measures in order to improve the natural environment and create a comfortable living environment for residents.

Create a 'Green Lung' for the city

The district has committed to carrying out a reforestation project in the ecologically vulnerable area of Dongping Mountain. Reforestation has already been carried out on 32 land plots covering an area of 57,000 square meters. Surveying and mapping, as well as reforestation work on remaining land plots, is also currently underway.

Siming district plans to complete its near-zero carbon emissions demonstration project within three years (2020 - 2022) in the Dongping Mountain area due to the area's geographic features, future planning, economic level, and low-carbon basis. The fundamentals of the project were accepted by the Xiamen Bureau of Ecology and the Environment on Sept 25, making it Xiamen's first near-zero carbon emission demonstration site.

Siming district is turning into Xiamen's green lung. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Grid management to control air pollution

The district has established a professional team to inspect air quality in all areas of the city, from new business areas to back alleyways, to control emissions of cooking fumes and dust from construction sites.

The team will inspect every corner of the region in order to prevent environmental pollution activities and report problems for relevant departments to deal with. Volunteers will also serve on the grid management team.

Smart platforms provide precise control

The district has made some basic achievements in controlling particulate pollution in major areas by utilizing an online air quality supervision system and installing radar to supervise sources of pollution. The smart supervision environment platform for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was also used to supervise vehicle repair companies in major areas.

Strict measures taken to control pollution

Since 2017, the district has been setting regulations for vehicle repair companies and strengthening verification of their waste gas control equipment.

Non-road motor vehicles are also being regulated, and are now required to put up environmental protection signs. The district now has 540 non-road motor vehicles with signs.

Yundang Lake in Siming district, Xiamen [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]