The Chilechuan grassland in Hohhot has breathtaking vistas. It is one of 39 grasslands included in the national grassland nature park project. [Photo by Le Yan/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Hohhot – capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – is carrying out measures to develop itself into a more livable prairie city, with 506 key urban construction projects confirmed for 2022 that when complete will cost 330 billion yuan ($50.39 billion), according to local media reports.

This year alone, projects worth 63 billion yuan will be completed.

In terms of infrastructure, Hohhot will coordinate and promote the construction of water, electricity, gas and heating facilities.

In the current year, Hohhot will focus on the establishment of eight large parks, 50 sports parks, 300 pocket parks and 300 kilometers of urban greenways.

A delighted mother and her son check out the flowers now in bloom in a pocket park in Hohhot. [Photo/Hohhot Daily]

This year, Hohhot will further improve its residential living conditions and carry out the renovation of 392 old communities and eight shanty towns.

In the construction of a sponge city, Hohhot plans to undertake the transformation of 17 water accumulation points in key road sections and the transformation of 28 mixed-flow rain and sewage pipe networks. 

During the year, it plans to raise more than 10,000 affordable rental housing units.

In terms of smart city construction, Hohhot plans to upgrade its city brain management center, establish three smart city management systems, for smart city construction, smart city management and smart traffic management, and improve four major infrastructure smart management platforms for urban water, electricity, gas and heating.