Guiyang has stepped up efforts to reduce industrial pollution, construction dust and, pollution from kitchens. It has also improved air quality by encouraging the use of new-energy vehicles.

The city recorded 358 days of good air in 2019.

Guiyang has also formulated a stringent environmental-responsibility system to protect biodiversity and restore local bodies of water.

It has spent 3.4 billion yuan to address water pollution. Sewage pipelines have been added, and 18 wastewater plants have been built.

"The city's sewage treatment will exceed 95 percent," Chen says.

The city has increased forest coverage by 113.3 square kilometers and urban green spaces by 1.3 square kilometers, he says.

A total of 1,025 parks featuring urban, forest, mountain, wetland and community elements had opened by 2019.

Guiyang has initiated a new round of park construction this year to bring the number to over 2,000, during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

This new construction will be integrated with ecological protection, soil-pollution treatment and shantytown upgrades, Chen says.

A cluster of culture and creative-industry parks will be built to boost innovation and sustainable development, Chen says.

The continually improving ecology has helped attract tourists from far and wide.