The air is quite clearly clean in this view of Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Qidong has again appeared at top spot on the Jiangsu air quality list for the past half year, according to a recent announcement made by the Jiangsu ecological authority.

The PM 2.5 concentrations in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, stood at 32.9 parts on average over the past six months, giving the place a reputation for the best air quality in Jiangsu.

Qidong owes its good air quality to the county-level city’s ambitious tree-planting program. In 2018, the newly-added reforestation area of the city hit 1,667 hectares, taking its forest coverage ratio from 16.98 percent in 2012 to 25.31 percent last year. 

The efforts by local authorities to keep the city’s air clean and at restoring the natural environment have been recognized by provincial authorities.

The green lungs of the metropolis are evident in this lush aerial view of newly-planted trees in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, in eastern China’s Jiangsu province [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Newly-planted trees line a street in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, in eastern Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Masses of newly-planted trees can be seen next to a highway. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]