Logging ban clears future path

Once economically reliant on commercial forestry and heavy industry, the province is now focusing on greener ways to generate prosperity

Editor's note: As the People's Republic of China prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary on Oct 1, China Daily is featuring a series of stories on the role regions have played in the country's development and where they are today.

Liu Yangshun was one of the more than 70,000 forestry workers laid off in 2013 when his hometown of Yichun, Heilongjiang province, decided to opt for green development and banned commercial logging.