Chongqing- Southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality is stepping up the national ecological garden city's construction, according to the Chongqing Municipal Urban Management Bureau on May 7. 

Chongqing plans to complete the creation in 2023 and the application in 2024. By 2025, the central urban area of Chongqing will reach the national standard.

The national ecological garden city is an upgrade of the national garden city in China, highlighting the improvements in urban ecological functions, construction management, and services level. 

Its title was created in 1992 and is the highest honor a Chinese city can receive for its urban living environment. Qingdao, Yangzhou, Nanjing, and Hangzhou, are some of the first pilot cities in China. 

In March, the municipal government issued Chongqing's plan for creating a national ecological garden city, emphasizing the five aspects of landscaping management, urban environmental livability, urban health, urban security, and urban features. 

By 2025, the total amount of green space and ecological quality in Chongqing's central urban areas will significantly increase. There will be a more appropriate layout of garden space, urban infrastructure, and a livable environment in the city. 

In detail, the central city greening coverage rate shall not be lower than 43%, and the urban green space rate is not less than 40%. Park green area per capita shall not be less than 14.8 square meters, and the number of comprehensive parks owned by every 100,000 people shall not be less than 1.5. The greening rate of urban roads is not less than 85%, and the coverage rate of urban boulevards cultivated shall not be less than 85%. 

Considering the natural features of Chongqing, the city will create a national ecological garden city in the central urban area, said a municipal urban management bureau official. 

In recent years, Chongqing has made efforts in green transformation, from slope cliff beautification to green space quality improvement. The urban greenery amount and the greening quality have improved, offering favorable conditions for the central city. 

Meanwhile, it's of great significance to create the national ecological garden city and deepen the urban green history and cultural inheritance. In 2021, related departments applied the first batch of historical gardens, and 17 parks were awarded, including Eling Park in Yuzhong District.