In recent years, the local government of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone has made ecological progress part and parcel of the entire process of economic and social development, working toward achieving a green and low-carbon lifestyle.

Urban water system

The Hefei high-tech zone has been attaching great importance to the urban water system, integrated water element into the city's landscaping, and made the water system able to better serve urban development, people's lives, and the environment.

The small watershed of Banjiu Yanhe in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Once a small watershed not up to ecological standards, Banjiu Yanhe River has been transformed into a popular place for local residents to unwind thanks to efforts to incorporate water ecology and smart tech in water management.

"Ecological water protection" is a way of enriching ecological diversity and improving water quality through planting new vegetation while preserving the original ones. With these measures, water quality of the rivers in the region has been improved significantly.

The zone set up a real-time smart water management platform to comprehensively manage water-related affairs, on which various sets of data were collected, including water quality, hydrology, meteorology, river channel, and the rain and sewage pipe network.

Parks and greenbelt

Endowed with favorable natural conditions, the zone has built a number of parks in recent years. In 2023, six new parks were completed in the zone, bringing the total number to more than 60, and benefiting more than 40,000 residents nearby.

Wangjuhu Park in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Systematically linking a linear greenbelt with dotted small gardens, the zone has made every effort to build parks and green spaces in all possible spots, allowing residents to immerse themselves in a green landscape.

The zone focused on the integration of industrial and residential areas, and comprehensively promoted the adoption of a green and low-carbon lifestyle. It aims to create a "15-minute low-carbon living circle" for residents, with the area's buses all powered by new energy.

Eco-friendly industries

Upholding the principles of green and low-carbon development, the zone has coordinated efforts to promote low-carbon industrial development, clean and efficient energy utilization, and efficient land use. Included in the national pilot program for peaking carbon emissions, it is beefing up efforts to achieve both economic growth and ecological improvement.

An aerial view of the new Hefei Science and Technology Museum in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The new Hefei Science and Technology Museum, with a 600-kW photovoltaic power station on the rooftop, is known as a zero-carbon structure that is green, intelligent, and eco-friendly. Located on the east side of Shuxi Lake, the museum epitomizes low-carbon development in the Hefei high-tech zone.

In recent years, the zone has helped more than 60 enterprises to transform and upgrade traditional manufacturing, so that they can better make use of their space and improve carbon efficiencies. Enterprises are also encouraged to move toward intelligent, green, and service-oriented manufacturing.

The latest 2024 list of intelligent factories and digital workshops in Anhui added four intelligent factories and five digital workshops from the zone, bringing the total number to 13 and 40, respectively. In 2023, four factories located in the zone were designated as "green factories" at the national level, injecting strong momentum into the region's green development.