Dongying, located in the center of the Yellow River Delta, is expected to develop into a modern eco-city by keeping a healthy wetlands system while continuing to promote economic development.

"Protecting the environment involves in every aspect of the city's development," said Zhang Jianhua, mayor of Dongying and deputy to the 11th National People's Congress.

"The wetlands and the city are indispensable to each other and Dongying will become one of the best eco-cities in China's eastern costal region."

Developing an efficient ecological economy in the Yellow River Delta, one of the nation's three largest deltas, was listed on China's 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05) and the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10).

In order to build an ecological city with large green spaces and expanses of water, five artificial rivers were dug and 30 bridges were built that are now tourist sites. The water has helped the city's green coverage growth, which has increased to 30.3 percent of its total land area.

To maintain an environmental approach, Dongying is developing promising industries like sea products, animal husbandry, vegetables and cotton. Covering 40,000 hectares, green agriculture now produces more than 60 brands.

The development of efficient ecological agriculture has also played an important role in helping farmers increase their incomes. Last year, the average net income of the city's farmers increased 12 percent to 5,157 yuan.

Shengli Oilfield, the second-largest in China, is located in Dongying, but the city insists on environmental protection in resource development, with 95 percent of wastewater recycled.

The Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve, covering 153,000 hectares, is an important global wetland system and a home to rare and endangered bird species. At present, there are 265 different species of birds in the reserve.

The city now has 1,410 sq km of wetlands, which account for 18 percent of the city's total land. Some 4,000 hectares of wetlands have thus far been returned to their natural state.

Dongying is enhancing the development of its manufacturing, energy and logistics while ensuring a sustainable economy and protecting the environment so that the Yellow River Delta will become an attractive holiday destination and Dongying be a pleasant place to live. Part of the plan is a park in the delta with 40 percent forest coverage.

Dongying also advocates highly efficient, high-yielding agricultural production and sightseeing to bolster its economy. It says it plans to explore ways to use alkali land for farming that will be producing by 2010.

The city also plans tourism programs that include ecological tours of the Yellow River Estuary and cultural offerings that will help make it a holiday destination.

(China Daily March 6, 2008)