Zhanjiang, ranked second among Guangdong cities in terms of the ambient air quality comprehensive index in 2016, yielded the second highest GDP in west Guangdong province, balancing environment maintenance against economic growth.

Zhanjiang's annual report about environment quality in 2016 was issued on March 27, showing the city has maintained a rating of ambient air quality hitting 97.3 percent. The average density of PM 2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers) was 26 micrograms per cubic meter in 2016, compared with 29 micrograms per cubic meter two years ago.

Zhanjiang's GDP in 2016 exceeded 258.4 billion yuan ($41.5 billion), an increase of 7.9 percent year-on-year, owing to a number of key projects including a papermaking and refinery complex.

Zhanjiang enjoys good air quality and a beautiful natural landscape. [Photo by Wu Wenkang]

Zhanjiang officials have said that the city should maintain a balance between economic development and environmental protection. More money has been invested in energy-conserving technology to reduce the environmental impact of traditional heavy chemical industries.

In 2016, Zhanjiang Baosteel reached a production value of 15.5 billion yuan in its first year of operation. The production base shouldered the responsibility of green and clean production by using recycled resources. A total of 116 varieties of green technology were utilized along with the largest environmental protection investment of any domestic iron and steel producer.

Electric buses serve Zhanjiang residents. [Photo by Wu Wenkang]

Obsolete production technology has been eliminated through national and provincial government orders in the service of industrial upgrades. Zhanjiang has also promoted the use of new and renewable energy sources, with the usage rate of clean energy rising from 46.5 percent to 76.8 percent from 2013 to 2015.

"Zhanjiang has handled the relationship between industrial development and environmental protection well, advancing the green development path," said Chen Danqing, chief engineer at Guangdong's environment monitoring center, "it is a good model."