Qingzhen selected as national ecological civilization pilot zone

The Red Maple Lake in Qingzhen. [Photo/WeChat account of Qingzhen city]

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced the seventh batch of national ecological civilization pilot zones on Oct 27. Qingzhen city in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, has won the title.

Surrounded by the Red Maple, Baihua, Dongfeng and Suofeng lakes, Qingzhen is literally a city of lakes. Red Maple Lake is a pivotal source of drinking water for Guiyang City and Guian New Area.

For this reason, Qingzhen has launched an ecological migration campaign around the lake, investing 865 million yuan ($120.49 million) and relocating 558 rural households. The government also shut down 15 polluting enterprises valued at 10 billion yuan in total, banned 176 breeding bases, tore down 122,000 square meters of illegal buildings, and set up a sewage treatment system with supporting sewage collecting pipe networks.

After years of efforts, the lake's water quality is now stable at Class III.

The Wangzhuang aluminum processing center in the Qingzhen Economic & Technological Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account of Qingzhen city]

Aluminum processing is Qingzhen's leading industry, and its aluminum oxide and electrolyze aluminum businesses have 62 percent and 53 percent of Guizhou's market shares respectively. The recycled aluminum project began operating in Qingzhen at the end of June, marking the formation of a sustainable aluminum industrial chain in the Qingzhen Economic & Technological Development Zone.

The Anliu scenic area in Qingzhen. [Photo/WeChat account of Qingzhen city]