The green open space in Jiading has increased by more than 100 hectares since 2014. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]

The Jiading district has been making strenuous efforts to improve the district's environment by adding more green open space.

According to official estimates, the green open space in Jiading has increased by more than 100 hectares since 2014. The total green area in the district has reached 2,953 hectares by the end of 2014, with per capita public green area amounting to 17.9 square meters. The forest area is now 6,448 hectares and forest coverage rate reached 11.91 percent.

Local expressways and railways were encircled by more green areas to help improve the district’s landscape. Last year, about 133 hectares of forests were planted along five highways running through the district.

A forest near Gongmin village of Anting town along the Shanghai-Nanjing expressway contains hundreds of cherry trees, filamental flowering crab trees and camphor trees. Zhu Huafang, head of forestry station in Anting town, said this area used to be a wasteland.

"In spring, the cherry flowers blossom; in autumn, flowers of goldenrain tree fill the air  – now this is a true garden," Zhu said, adding that the different varieties of trees are planted together to reduce the chance of plant diseases and pests.

Planting trees along highways does not only benefit environment, but it also helps reduce noise. However, a lot of land near highways are infertile or lacking enough soil. In Jiading Industrial Zone, about 8.8 hectares of forests along the Shenyang-Haikou highway had grown erratically due to poor land. To salvage the trees, the Jiading Industrial Zone elevated the ground by four meters by implanting soil and fertilizer in the area and then replanted the trees. Now the flourishing forest is expected to function as a natural barrier against noise and dust from the highway.