At the Start of Summer (li xia), the Fenhe River Cultural and Ecological Scenic Area in Linfen city offers a pleasant environment that attracts residents for daily exercise. Residents have noted a significant improvement in Linfen's environmental quality in recent years.
As a resource-based city, Linfen had long ranked near the bottom in air quality among key cities nationwide. In the past, winters were often plagued by smog, dust, and coal smoke pollution. This was largely due to its heavy industrial structure, the concentration of high-energy-consuming enterprises, and the impact of its local terrain on air dispersion.
Linfen's ancient city walls harmonize with modern buildings, creating a picturesque scene that reflects the city's improved air quality and enhanced urban appeal. [Photo/Linfen Daily]
To tackle pollution, Linfen has implemented comprehensive reforms across its industrial enterprises. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the city has shut down a total of 9.15 million metric tons of coking capacity and 220,000 tons of crude steel capacity. Clean transportation upgrades have been completed for operating enterprises in 143 provincial-level industrial parks, while ultra-low emission retrofits have been carried out for 10 steel plants, seven coking plants, and 16 cement factories.
According to data from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, by 2025, the average PM2.5 concentration in Linfen is projected to reach 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter, reflecting a 46.5 percent decrease from 2020 and the most significant improvement in China.
