Over the past year, Jining has made significant strides in improving its water quality, setting an example for the province.

Nine major river sections in the city achieved Class II water quality, ranking first in the province both in terms of excellent rate and the number of excellent sections under national and provincial control. The improvement rate of the water environment quality index also stands at the forefront in the province.

The city focused on managing four types of water - industrial, agricultural, domestic, and shipping. As a result, they rectified 2,223 pollution sources, completed drainage control on 154,800 mu (10,320 hectares) of paddy fields, and improved the ecosystem of 23,000 mu of aquaculture ponds. Furthermore, they conducted 5,967 treatments of rural domestic sewage, effectively addressing 975 instances of rural black and odorous water bodies.

Efforts were made to upgrade all 30 sewage treatment plants, renovate 349.7 kilometers of drainage roads, and eliminate combined drainage pipeline networks in all 11 counties and districts.

Moreover, investments were made in water hyacinth harvesting, the construction of artificial wetlands, and equipping sewage treatment plants with wetlands. The city also experienced excellent air quality on 62.5 percent of days in the past year.

An aerial photograph of Weishan Lake National Wetland Park in Weishan county, Jining, Shandong, showcase its lush vegetation and picturesque scenery. [Photo/CFP]