Chongqing - Chongqing has made significant progress in improving its environment over the past five years, with cleaner rivers, fresher air, restored biodiversity, and greener growth models benefiting both residents and businesses, officials said at a press conference on September 10.

An aerial view of downtown Chongqing, where the stunning “Chongqing Blue” skies captivate the eye. (Photo/Zheng Yu)

According to Yu Guodong, director of Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, water quality across the municipality has remained among the best in the country. The share of water sections rated good or above has exceeded the 97.3 percent target for four consecutive years, reaching 100 percent in both 2023 and 2024. The Yangtze River’s Chongqing stretch has maintained excellent quality for eight straight years, while restoration projects have brought back over 1,300 rural water bodies, improving the living environment for more than 820,000 people.

Air quality has also steadily improved. Residents now enjoy more than 325 days of good air quality each year for five years in a row, with PM2.5 concentrations continuing to fall. Images of “Chongqing Blue” skies and golden sunsets have frequently gone viral on social media.

On land, the city has remediated 87 contaminated plots, restoring over 9,000 mu (600 hectares) for safe use. Deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau Liu Qin noted that by the end of this year, Chongqing expects to achieve full incineration and zero landfill of household waste, supported by 78 new treatment facilities with a daily capacity of 36,400 tons. 

Hazardous waste disposal capacity has more than doubled since 2020, while over 3,800 “zero-waste cells” have been established in communities, enterprises, and schools, embedding the zero-waste concept into daily life.

Xuebao Mountain National Nature Reserve in Chongqing. (Photo/Huang Wei, Xinhua)

Efforts to restore ecosystems and biodiversity have also paid off. Chongqing’s forest coverage has increased from 52.5 percent in 2020 to 55.07 percent, ranking among the top ten nationwide. Over 7,000 hectares of abandoned mines have been rehabilitated, while species conservation programs have yielded positive results. 

According to Liu Ming, deputy director of Chongqing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, once considered on the brink of extinction, the endangered Cathaya argyrophylla has made a comeback, with 750,000 seedlings reintroduced to the wild and millions more cultivated across 12 provinces. 

The once-threatened forest musk deer has doubled in distribution from nine to 18 districts and counties, while fish species in the Yangtze have increased by 58 since the ten-year fishing ban began.

Chongqing has also sought to balance protection with growth. Liu Ming explained that the city enforces strict environmental access rules to push industrial upgrading while easing the approval burden for low-impact projects. 

Since 2021, more than 11,000 projects meeting environmental requirements have been approved, representing investments worth over 2.1 trillion yuan (about 295 billion USD). Reforms such as differentiated zoning controls, pilot programs in green industrial parks, and digital tools like an online environmental access query system have streamlined processes, cutting approval times while safeguarding ecological baselines.

The Qutang Gorge on the Yangtze River in Chongqing offers a picturesque view. (Photo/Wang Quanchao, Xinhua)

Meanwhile, Chongqing’s carbon market has recorded trades exceeding 53 million tons, valued at more than 1.29 billion yuan. The city has developed 200 national-level green factories and 20 green industrial parks. Officials say such efforts are transforming environmental protection into a source of competitiveness for businesses.

Looking ahead, Chongqing will continue to focus on high-level ecological protection to drive high-quality development. The city aims to deliver landmark results as a pioneer area in building a “Beautiful China,” contributing to harmony between people and nature along the Yangtze River.