Early winter scenery of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
TANGSHAN, Nov. 12, 2019 (Xinhua) -- The Nanhu scenic park used to be a deserted area due to coal exploitation. Over years of management, the spot has been serving as the "green lung" of Tangshan.
The park in Lu'nan District of Tangshan covers an area of 28 sq km and is free to the public. It hosted the 2016 world horticultural expo, which helped accelerate the city's tourism and cultural industry with improved infrastructure, including hotels and new sight-seeing facilities. Last year, the park received 4.8 million tourists, 1.7 times that of 2017.
Tangshan, 150 km east of Beijing, is one of the major old industrial cities, with coal, steel and ceramics among its traditional industries.
As China advances ecological progress and makes environmental protection a key aspect for the wellbeing of citizens, the city is making unprecedented moves to treat pollution and restore the environment.
In line with the country's efforts to cut excess industrial capacity, the city has slashed nearly 80 million tonnes in iron and steel production capacity since 2013, dismantled and sealed off 147 converters and furnaces, and closed small polluting factories. The number of iron and steel firms has been reduced to 38 from 58 in 2012.
Early winter scenery of Nanhu scenic spot, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
A view of Nanhu scenic spot in Tangshan City, Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
