China improves livability of cities in extreme weather

China is ramping up efforts to improve the livability of urban areas subject to severe weather.

A report showed that to improve the livability of cities that experience extreme weather, China awarded 26 more cities the title of "National Forest City" in 2022 and built 3,520 "small parks" across the country.

"For example, heat waves, rainstorms, droughts, floods and other disasters have an impact on people's lives, as well as the livability of places. (Climate change) also has a significant impact on water engineering, transportation engineering, energy engineering, and so on," said Yan Denghua, deputy director of the Department of Water Resources under the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research.

Lishui City of east China's Zhejiang Province has built forest belts on both sides of a river that runs through the city, with a width of 300 to 400 meters. It effectively reduces the outdoor temperature in summer.

"When I was a child, I felt that it was very hot here, and at that time, I had to eat ice pops or cold watermelons. Now I don't have that stuffy feeling, I feel the air is very good and comfortable," said Huang Jingjing, a resident.

Disasters caused by extreme weather are also important factors affecting the living environment of residents.

In 2016, due to a typhoon, a major natural disaster occurred in Sucun Village, Lishui City. After the disaster, in order to improve the living environment, the local residents were relocated down the mountains, completely away from the danger. The natural ecology of the mountains has also been restored.

(Cover: Oujiang River in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, east China, July 10, 2022. /CFP)