Xianning sets good example for building a livable city

World
Europe

02:42

Reporter's note: Forty years after the reform and opening up, Chinese people have experienced remarkable changes in their livelihoods. Today, what really matters to people is the quality of their life. In this sense, it has really tested local governments on how to build a livable city with a good environment and public services. Xianning in central China's Hubei Province has made some rewarding attempts.

Like many around the same age, 68-year-old Chen Qianjun from Xianning in central China's Hubei Province has maintained a habit of going to the free public hot spring near his home every day for eight years.

"We all consider it a gift from the gods. As far as I know, there are hundreds of hot springs nationwide, but this should be the only one open to the citizens free of charge. So we're also grateful to the government as it has invested a lot to renovate it."

Widely considered a great way of having fun and keeping healthy, this site has seen a growing popularity over the past years.

Xianning residents enjoy the city's free public hot spring, one of the most popular way of recreation in the region. /CGTN Photo

Meanwhile, the precious resource has also been well exploited for commercial use. Now, there are more than 10 hot spring centers in Xianning, which are attracting an increasing number of visitors from neighboring cities, especially during the winter.

The booming tourism, actually, can largely be attributed to the city's full-fledged transportation system. Situated at the junction of three provinces – Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi, Xianning is linked with neighboring cities with well-established expressways, inter-city railways and high-speed railways. The construction of an airport will also start soon.

"My family drives from Wuhan to enjoy the hot springs here almost every winter. It only takes about one hour, very convenient. And we heard that the hot springs in Xianning are all natural, not artificial," said Peng Huiming, a tourist.

Tourists from neighboring cities enjoy hot spring in Xianning. /CGTN Photo

In 2017, the city's tourism revenue reached more than 29 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion U.S. dollars), increasing by almost 20 percent from the previous year.

Actually, this is a good example of how a city can take full advantage of its natural resources to benefit local residents and promote its development. It also prompts local government to realize that protecting nature is the key to building a livable city.

"Green development" has been one of the city's priorities in its overall strategy. All the hot spring venues scatter around the Qian Mountain, a national forest part in the downtown area, which is another popular recreational resort for the citizens.

With a forest coverage rate of more than 50 percent, the city has even promised to expand its green areas by building more parks.

Local residents take a walk at the Qian Mountain, which is listed as a national forest park. /CGTN Photo

The government is determined to enhance people's well-being by improving public services.

"We will step up the planning and construction of the public service facilities in terms of education, medical care, recreation and sports as well as elderly care," Zou Jianhui, deputy director of the city's Urban and Rural Planning Bureau, told CGTN. He added that they will also try to solve the commuting problem by optimizing road traffic, among other measures.

Chen described his life as simple yet satisfying. As a witness to the city's development over the past decades, he said he looks forward to more positive changes.