Dahua recognized as eco-civilization demonstration zone

Dahua Yao autonomous county was designated as a national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone on Dec 25. It was the only county or district in Hechi selected in 2024, joining Liuzhou's Chengzhong district and Beihai's Haicheng district on the national list of 105 demonstration zones.

In recent years, Dahua has developed a distinctive approach that coordinates ecological conservation with high-quality development.

To reduce pollution, the county has promoted clean energy sources like wind and solar power. In 2024, urban air quality was rated as good 99.5 percent of the year, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 24 µg/m³.

The award ceremony is held on site. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

It has strictly protected farmland, which remains free from industrial pollution and has a safe utilization rate exceeding 93 percent. Ecological restoration efforts, including rocky desertification treatment and afforestation, have increased forest coverage to 61.16 percent, earning the county the title "Guangxi forest county."

These initiatives have boosted local prosperity. Utilizing its ecological resources, Dahua has established 274 modern characteristic agricultural demonstration zones, with four products receiving national geographical indication certification. It also promotes the resource utilization of waste from large-scale livestock farms.

Guangxi ecotourism demonstration zone: hundred-mile Hongshui River Art Gallery. [Photo/Hechi Daily]

In 2024, it received 3.26 million tourists, generating 3.42 billion yuan ($471 million) in tourism revenue, representing year-on-year increases of 19.85 percent and 19.77 percent, respectively. The county's GDP grew by 8.5 percent in 2024, while the per capita disposable income of residents rose by 6.2 percent.