Blue skies and white clouds in Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province has achieved its best ecological environment quality in over four decades of monitoring in 2025.

Nantong has recorded the province's lowest annual average PM2.5 concentration for four straight years — 25 micrograms per cubic meter — and, for five consecutive years, 83.8 percent of its days with good air quality, the municipal government's press office said on June 5.

The water quality in the Nantong section of the Yangtze River consistently met Class II standards, indicating that it is suitable for drinking after routine purification. Remarkably, for the first time, the proportion of excellent water quality in its nearshore sea area ranked first among the three coastal cities in the province.

The conditions of soil, noise, and radiation environments remained stable and manageable, with a 100 percent safe utilization rate for both polluted arable land and key construction land.

Looking ahead to the next five years, Nantong aims to build on its ecological protection achievements and advance biodiversity efforts by enhancing its comprehensive intelligent monitoring system, optimizing habitats for flora and fauna, and improving ecosystem stability and sustainability.

The city aspires to become a benchmark for biodiversity protection at the Yangtze River estuary, preserving its unique river and sea landscapes.