Another exciting project for Hohhot: It's going to become a sponge city demonstration pilot. [Photo/Hohhot news network]

The city of Hohhot – capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – has been included in the second batch of 25 demonstration cities for the establishment of sponge cities in China, according to local media reports.

A sponge city uses a system of parks, wetlands and drainage to collect, filter and store rainwater, while removing the excess from built-up areas.

The initiative aims to solve urban flooding, water pollution, environmental destruction and wastage of water resources by tightening regulations in water safety areas, including the environment, the ecology, resources and institutional construction.

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