CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The General Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has recently issued the Public Notice on the Proposed Winners List of the 2023 China Human Settlements and Environment Award.

The China Human Settlements and Environment Award is the highest honor in the field of human settlement and environment construction in China, which honors the cities, villages, towns, and entities that have made outstanding achievements in improving the quality of urban and rural environments, enhancing overall functions of towns and villages, and creating sound habitat environments. The award aims to promote sustainable development in all regions, strengthen the comprehensive improvement of the environment, and perfect the effective experiences and practices in improving the living environment.

Chongqing has had six projects shortlisted, ranking the first in China. The six projects include the Daijiaxiang Ancient Street Urban Renewal Project in Yuzhong District, Comprehensive Improvement of Riverside Reservoir Bank Environment in Yunyang County, Guangyang Island Ecological Restoration Project in Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shuanggui Lake Project in Liangping District, Shaci Trail Project in Shapingba District, and Hongyupo Old Community Reconstruction Project in Jiulongpo District.

Daijiaxiang Ancient Street Urban Renewal Project in Yuzhong District

Daijiaxiang Neighbourhood is located on top of the cliffs on the bank of the Jialing River in Jiefangbei CBD in Yuzhong District, close to the famous tourist attraction Hongyadong Scenic Spot.

This project has achieved the integration of production, life, and ecology. Empowered by the “Backstreet Economy”, Daijiaxiang features the unique experience of cliffs, distinctive neighborhood styles, and more than 40 characteristic shops, achieving an annual value of more than one hundred million yuan for the neighborhood. The upgraded public environment, the new property management rooms, and the living facilities for residents make the neighborhood more livable.

Comprehensive Improvement of Riverside Reservoir Bank Environment in Yunyang County

With a length of 33 kilometers and an area of about 500 hectares, the Comprehensive Improvement of Riverside Reservoir Bank Environment in Yunyang County covers the urban areas along the Yangtze River and Pengxi River.

Following the vision of “integrating the city with parks”, the project has built parks to satisfy the needs of both residents and tourists, and creatively combined bank improvement with urban culture and natural landscape, repairing 14 banks along the river, improving 25-kilometer river bank, completing slope stabilization for an area of 770,000 square meters, greening an area of 330 hectares, and building a greenway around the lake which connects eight theme parks. The project benefits 100,000 residents in 13 neighboring communities.

Guangyang Island Ecological Restoration Project in Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone

Guangyang Island, located between Tongluo Mountain and Mingyue Mountain in Chongqing, covers an area of ten square kilometers in the dry season and six square kilometers in the wet season. The local government has made continuous efforts to enrich the biodiversity in Guangyang Island through natural restoration and ecological restoration.

The ecological benefits of the project have gradually become prominent. The vegetation coverage rate of the island reached more than 90%, and the number of plants and animals on the island has increased to 627 and 458 respectively.

Shuanggui Lake Project in Liangping District

Shuanggui Lake National Wetland Park is located in the urban area of Liangping, covering an area of 350 hectares. Known as “the eyes of Three Gorges scenes – the ecological lake in Chongqing”, the park has been approved as a national wetland park and the only "International Wetland City" in southwest China.

The project carries out sponge city construction in the river basin to create a safe, resilient, green, and livable new urban area. Based on the water management system featuring "coordinated storage and discharge" and "multi-level purification", the water quality of Shuanggui Lake has been improved from poor class V to class III, the basin runoff storage and regulation capacity increased to 4.3 million cubic meters, and the annual ecological water replenishment amounted nearly 5 million cubic meters, building a solid safety base in the new area.

Shaci Trail Project in Shapingba District

The Shaci Trails, a system of one loop and several trails, include nine footpaths with characteristic landscapes such as the new Qingshui Creek, and Fenghuang Creek, which are mainly located around Gele Mountain and Ciqikou Scenic Spot in Shapingba District, Chongqing, with a total mileage of 30 kilometers.

The project enables the integrated development of traditional neighborhoods, effectively connects Baigongguan, Zhazidong, Ciqikou Ancient Town, and Gele Mountain Forest Park, links three rail train stations and 12 bus stations, offering more convenient travel experiences for tourists and residents and promoting the resource coordination in traditional neighborhoods.

Hongyupo Old Community Reconstruction Project in Jiulongpo District

Hongyupo Old Community is located in Yuzhoulu Sub-District, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing. The renovation has involved 88 buildings (covering an area of 126,000 square meters and established for more than 30 years) and benefited 3,476 households. Before the renovation, there were common problems such as water leakage in aged buildings, imperfect infrastructure, and a lack of public service.

The project has determined the transformation plan, implemented the cracking repair for buildings and facade repair, and removed other hidden safety hazards, completing 100% age-friendly reconstruction and forming a 15-minute living circle. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)