China has officially designated 23 county-level regions as the nation’s inaugural batch of ecological demonstration zones for beautiful countryside development. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced the pioneering initiative on Wednesday, highlighting these areas as exemplary models for sustainable rural transformation.
The selected regions represent three distinct approaches to environmentally-conscious development. Ten mountainous counties have successfully reconciled ecological preservation with enhanced livelihoods, overcoming the unique challenges of highland village development. Seven other areas have achieved balanced urban-rural integration by coupling environmental conservation with the growth of distinctive local industries. The remaining six zones have utilized their well-maintained ecosystems to drive agricultural modernization and rural economic revitalization.
According to Zhao Shixin, Director of the Ministry’s Department of Soil Ecology and Environment, these demonstration zones extend beyond creating habitable environments. They provide tangible blueprints for other regions seeking to enable residents to prosper from their natural assets—literally transforming ‘lucid waters and lush mountains’ into invaluable ecological and economic resources.
All 23 zones feature immaculate villages with comprehensive sewage and waste management systems that have successfully eradicated black, malodorous water bodies. The Ministry further revealed ambitious plans to support approximately 100 additional county-level areas in developing similar pioneer zones by 2027, significantly expanding the national network of eco-conscious rural development models.