People have fun in a park downtown Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

Living environment improvement will gain momentum in the next few years as part of Nantong's efforts to become a hub of advanced manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta region with a comprehensive transportation network and modernized city governance, local media outlets reported on Feb 6.

Nantong will improve basic infrastructure, including roads, water supplies, electrical networks, and housing, as well as upgrade the natural environment, according to a city beautification plan recently issued by the Nantong housing and urban-rural development bureau.

The plan aims for Nantong to establish a group of city beautification pilot projects by 2022, as well as become a prime choice for living, working, and setting up business in the YRD region by 2025.

To achieve this, sustained efforts will be made to increase the city's green coverage, including restoring the natural landscape in the Five Mountain area, the waterfront area along the Yangtze River and the coastal area, as well as building parks and running tracks for public fitness.

In addition, the city will take measures to clean rivers and streams, improve water quality across the city, as well as enhance flood control and drainage capacity.

Another important part of the plan is to optimize the city's transportation network, which include building expressway to connect high-speed railway stations and airports, upgrading old roads, promoting public transportation, as well as setting up a smart transportation management platform.

The plan will also focus on improving daily life services, including increasing parking spaces, as well as building "15-minute community service circles," which involve commerce, education, healthcare, culture, sports, and more.

Ten new standard food markets and five large-scale supermarkets will be built by the end of 2022, with water, electricity, and gas supply being upgraded, as well as garbage sorting being promoted across the city.

Other key efforts will also include restoring old residential areas, optimizing property management services, ensuring sound and stable development of the real estate industry, protecting and developing local cultural heritages, as well as setting up an integrated "smart city" governance platform.