Changxing seeks to become model eco-friendly county

Alongside economic development, extreme environmental damage was the price paid by Changxing county during its earlier growth period. Set near the Taihu Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, the area's local government and residents have been seeking to improve the environment over recent years and are now claiming to have made major inroads in this direction.

Over the past five years, Changxing has dedicated itself to establishing an environmentally-friendly community and focused on enhancing its green credentials through a number of high profile products, especially in terns of purifying the water running into the Taihu Lake.

Between 2005 and 2009, Carbon dioxide and SO2 emissions in the area decreased by 850 tons and 15,000 tons respectively. As well as high levels of reforestation, improved drinking water and a marked upturn in air quality have all been welcomed by the local community.