Residents cycle along the urban greenway in Jiuyuan district, in Baotou, Inner Mongolia [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]  

In any residential area in Jiuyuan district in Baotou, in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, you can always find a park or green space for fitness and leisure within 15 minutes’ drive.

That’s thanks to the district’s continuing efforts to promote the living environment and upgrade its parks and green spaces.

Over the past few years, Jiuyuan has been focusing on growing a green economy, continuously optimizing its industry structure, as well as developing and expanding its strategic emerging industries.

It has also strictly promoted the establishment of a sound economic system for green and low-carbon development.

Jiuyuan district has promoted projects such as parks and green space upgrades and "urban green lungs" such as the Baotou Civic Park and Bayingaole Park have been continuously improved.

Officials said that this means that as a rising modern central urban area in Baotou, Jiuyuan's number of good air quality days is also on the rise – reaching 73.8 percent of the total number of days.

A 50-kilometer urban greenway has been opened to the public in the city, encouraging an eco-friendly lifestyle.

The ecology-themed greenway starts from Kunhe Middle Bridge, to the west of the city, terminating at Baotou Dongxing Toll Station in the east. It passes through the districts of Hondlon, Qingshan, Jiuyuan and Donghe, and connects with Gangtie Street, Jianzhu Road and Bayantala Street.

A total of 15 parks and leisure squares have been linked with the new greenway.

The newly connected parks and greenway form an environmental leisure system and provide a gateway to the city’s natural and cultural facilities for local residents.