People take a hike in Taiyuan on March 6. [Photo/Taiyuan Daily]

Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, afforested more than 310 square kilometers in 2021 to promote its development into a national forest city.

The city carried out greening and beautification work along roads in rural areas last year, covering an area of 602,000 square meters. 

In built-up areas, Taiyuan added 2.68 million sq m of green space, with the green coverage rate increasing by 0.77 percentage points to 44.77 percent. Per capita green space increased by 0.5 sq m to 12.75 sq m.

It also completed the construction of Twin Towers Park, the 75-km-long Fenhe Bicycle Path and supporting greening project, the fourth-phase Fenhe River landscape improvement project, the water system treatment project of western Taiyuan, and the upgrading project of Xiangyun Park. 

In addition, the city promoted the concept of green development and organized various publicity activities themed around the creation of a national forest city over the past year. 

In 2022, Taiyuan will combine the creation of a national forest city with the construction of the Taiyuan-Xinzhou Integrated Economic Zone and integrate it with rural revitalization, to further improve the living environment and bring more environmental benefits to the general public.