A mayor in Shanxi turns coal capital green

TAIYUAN - Visiting an impoverished village in the morning and attending a work conference in the afternoon, Wu Hongwen, the mayor of Datong, Shanxi province, was on his way to a local company to hear about their difficulties.

Since taking office in September, Wu has maintained a tight daily schedule. "He is resolute and efficient," a local official said.

Datong, famed for its ancient Buddhist rock carvings, became China's "capital of coal" as demand for energy took off in the 1980s. The city experienced an extended boom and accumulated enormous wealth.