Shanxi, a major powerhouse of China, is taking a lead in the country to make its resources-based economy greener and more diversified.

Starting from the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, this northern province has excavated 13 billion tons of coal, of which about 9 billion tons were transported out of the province, according to the Shanxi provincial government.

In 2011, the coal output of Shanxi reached a record high of 870 million tons, about a quarter of the country's total, official figures show.