Chongqing - Chongqing, a city of mountains and rivers, is demonstrating remarkable innovation in green development. On August 16, journalists participating in the "Vibrant China Research Tour" witnessed how skyscrapers in Jiangbei harness the Yangtze River as a natural "air conditioner," while an abandoned mine in Beibei transformed into an ecological "gold mine"—vivid proof that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."
Chongqing's urban landscape. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Jingguan Town: From Quarry to Green Oasis
In Jingguan Town, Beibei, the once-degraded Huangnipo Quarry has vanished. Hillsides now bloom with plum, peach, and citrus trees, their branches heavy with fruit beneath mist-shrouded mountains.
The former mining pit has been transformed into a basketball court. (Photo/Deng Nan)
"Back then, this was a bustling quarry spanning over 300 acres," said Zhou Song, a returnee entrepreneur, standing in an orchard laden with emerald-red plums. In January 2017, his father closed the mine to align with the Yangtze Economic Belt's ecological priorities. Within months, Zhou planted over 20,000 fruit trees to heal the scarred land.
The branches are full of emerald red plums. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Four years of restoration birthed a rural tourism hotspot. Zhou's team launched the "Jibai Village", a boutique homestay, in 2017, rapidly gaining fame after opening in 2020. By 2022, village collectives had invested in land and buildings to support projects like the "Zhonghua Post (Jingguan Mountain Lodge)," boosting collective income by 150,000 yuan (approximately 20,885 DSD) annually.
Jibai Village was launched by Zhou Song. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The homestay now hosts over 100,000 visitors annually, generating revenue exceeding 5 million yuan (approximately 0.7 million USD). It employs nearly 30 villagers at an average annual income of 50,000 yuan (6,962 USD) per person, while weekend markets sell local specialties like Zhonghua millet and wintersweet. This revival stands as a model for private capital driving ecological restoration in Beibei.
A fantastic view from Jibai Village. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Jiangbeizui CBD: The Yangtze's Climate-Control Revolution
A striking anomaly in Jiangbeizui's skyscraper forest defies Chongqing's 40°C summers: no traditional AC units mar the buildings' facades. The secret lies beneath Diamond Plaza—an 11,000-square-meter "energy hub" drawing water from the Yangtze River.
Jiangbeizui's skyscraper forest. (Photo/Deng Nan)
The Jiangbeizui River Water Source Heat Pump Project leverages the river's natural thermal properties through cutting-edge heat pump technology. "While summer air temperatures exceed 40°C, the Yangtze's water stays near 30°C," explained Wang Jing, the project lead. "We harness this differential to cool and heat the entire district."
Wang Jing introduces the River Water Source Heat Pump Project to reporters. (Photo/Deng Nan)
Compared to conventional cooling systems, this innovation eliminates noise pollution, heat emissions, and urban "heat islands" while freeing up 22,000 square meters of mechanical room space—significantly reducing upfront costs. Its environmental impact delivers profound annual savings: 52,000 kW in electricity capacity, 1.98 million cubic meters of water, and 60,000 tons of CO₂ emissions (equivalent to planting a vast urban forest). Currently serving 39 clients and over 5,800 enterprises across 2.3 million square meters of the CBD, the system exemplifies scalable, sustainable infrastructure.
Energy Station No. 1 of the River Water Source Heat Pump Project. (Photo/Deng Nan)
From the ecological rebirth of an abandoned mine in Beibei to the smart, river-powered climate control in Jiangbei, Chongqing proves that environmental protection and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. With innovation as its brush, the city paints a bold vision of green, low-carbon, high-quality development across its landscape—where every drop of river water contains cooling power, and every inch of restored mine pulses with revitalized hope.