The Bayi Henghe River after renovation [Photo/ntjoy.com]

Chongchuan district has made significant progress in increasing the green coverage and improving the landscape, Nantong Daily reported on June 25.

As the downtown area of the eastern city of Nantong, the district has placed a lot of emphasis on landscaping project since 2013.

Over the past years, the district has built 42 small gardens around residential areas, aiming to upgrade the living environment and bring more convenience to the locals.

Another eight landscaping projects are under construction this year, including a 1,200-meter greenbelt along the Bayi Henghe River.

"I did not expect that the stinky river would turn into such a beautiful spot for relaxation," said Ge Li, a local resident, who now takes a walk along the riverside every evening.

According to Gu Qi, an official at the district's urban construction department, the local government has invested nearly 30 million yuan ($4.36 million) to renovate the riverside area this year.

"A variety of trees and flowers have been planted in the area to ensure the locals can enjoy the flowery scenery all year round," said Gu.

Chongchuan will be the major venue of the 2019 China Forest Tour Festival which will be held in Nantong in October this year.

The local government has listed 294 environmental renovation tasks in preparation for the tourism gala, with 260 completed so far.