In recent years, the Rugao government has prioritized environmental protection over economic development and rolled out measures to realize eco-friendly growth. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

The air and water quality in Rugao, Nantong has been constantly improving over the past years, local media reported.

As of August, the county-level city's average annual PM 2.5 density decreased to 34.5 micrograms per cubic meter from 39 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018. The ratio of good air quality days also increased to 86 percent from 74.4 percent.

In 2019, 72.7 percent of water was found to be of Grade III in quality, a 45.4-percentage-point leap from 2018. This has since been improved to 100 percent as of August this year.

In recent years, the Rugao government has prioritized environmental protection over economic development and rolled out measures to realize eco-friendly growth.

For instance, it has since 2016 demolished all illegally operated wharfs along a 7.7-kilometer natural bank along the Yangtze River and improved the green landscape of the waterfront area.

Meanwhile, the city's environmental department has tightened administrative procedures and offered professional advice in the construction of industrial projects.

"We have introduced new equipment to control the emission of volatile organic compounds, and the ratio of waste gas proposal will surpass 90 percent when the equipment is put into operation," said Bao Yiqing, a senior executive at a local tyre company.