Northeast China's Zhaunghe champions ecological development

Zhuanghe in Liaoning province has a picturesque landscape and abundant natural resources, including the city's famous Haiwangjiudao, meaning "nine islands of the king of the ocean". [Photo provided to China Daily]

Zhuanghe leverages location and natural advantages for sustainable growth

Zhuanghe, in Northeast China's Liaoning province, is striving to build a modern ecological port city through industrial upgrading and environmental protection, said a senior official.

The city boasts unique geographic advantages for opening-up. It is located on the banks of the northern part of the Yellow Sea and in the northeastern Dalian, which administers Zhuanghe.

Zhuanghe port is a national first-level open port and one of the closest Chinese ports to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Zhuanghe ranks 38th among the country's top 100 counties in terms of economic power, according to a survey released by the Zhongjun Research Institute, an economic think tank, in August.

Sun Hong, Party chief of Zhuanghe, said environmental protection and low-carbon economy were key to the city's sustainable development.

During the past 20 years, the city has made great efforts to preserve its natural landscape, which includes more than 300 rivers.

The city not only rejected some investment projects due to pollution concerns but also forbade traditional industries that might damage the environment, including herding and sericulture.

In recent years, the central government has paid great attention to ecological civilization construction. Zhuanghe hopes to seize opportunities and make full use of its geographical advantages to integrate itself into the development course of Dalian.

Zhuanghe will further build itself into a more livable and enterprising city based on its natural and market resources, Sun said.

Port potential

With a coastline of 285 kilometers, Zhuanghe has great potential to become a port city. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, will help with the expansion of Zhuanghe port and its industrial upgrading, Sun said.