The air quality in Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region achieved a historical high in 2022 with 323 days recorded as "good" – in line with the country's standard throughout the year, local media reported.

Officials said that the air quality in the city has been improved as a result of consistent efforts made by locals in fighting pollution – one of the city's core tasks in recent years to enhance the environmental quality. As a result, people's sense of fulfillment and happiness has noticeably increased.

Baotou started carrying out a "blue-sky" defense plan in 2014 in order to improve the air quality and enable local people to enjoy pristine air.

Ever since then, the annual average concentration of PM10 – a major pollutant index - has continued to decline. It went from 151 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 to 65 mg per cu m in 2021 for the first time and went further down to 57 mg per cu m in 2022, a year-on-year decline of 12.3 percent and a decline of 62.3 percent compared with the level in 2014, according to official statistics.

Moreover, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 – another key pollution measure – hit a new low last year, falling to 26 mg per cu m.

In 2021, Baotou was honored by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment due to its success in air quality management.