A group of international environmental experts from 10 countries toured Linfen in north China's Shanxi Province last week, witnessing how a city once dominated by coal and steel is transforming its economy through new energy, ecological restoration and green industries. CGTN reporter Liu Jiaxin has joined them on the research tour.

Official statistics show Linfen's coal consumption has dropped by nearly 3.5 million tonnes during the previous Five-Year Plan period, PM2.5 concentration has fallen 46.5% from 2020 levels, and the share of new and clean energy in installed capacity is set to exceed 62%. The city's GDP grew 7% in 2025 even as coal consumption fell, suggesting that decarbonization and economic growth are not necessarily at odds.