Pingdu has become a greener city since it launched an action plan in 2022 to improve the environment and living conditions. CHINA DAILY

Pingdu, a city under the administration of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province, is becoming a better place to live thanks to a greening campaign launched by the local government in recent years.

The city has implemented a three-year action plan since 2022 to improve the local environment and living conditions. The greening campaign is the core part of the plan.

The campaign has quickly yielded strong results.

The city's latest statistics show that its urban vegetation coverage has now reached 41.18 percent and the per capita park area hit 13.31 square meters.

Developing a greenway system and building pocket parks are important parts of Pingdu's greening efforts.

According to a local official, the greenway system includes sidewalks along the roads and streets, and trails along watercourses and lakes, as well as trails specifically designed for people to walk, jog, run or cycle.

The official said that the design of the greenway system is aimed at offering convenience and benefits to residents and improving the city's ecological environment.

For instance, there are plans to plant more arbor trees along the streets to offer shade to pedestrians, build shaded paths to link bus stops and residential communities and add facilities for exercising in green spaces.

The construction of the greenway system goes along with projects to improve local rivers and lakes, aiming to transform trails along watercourses into scenic belts and venues for people to relax.

There are also a number of green trails to connect the city's parks, large or small.

"The 2020 Park — the central park of Pingdu — stands at the heart of the greenway system. From the 2020 Park, there are an axial line and two circular lines to connect the majority of parks in the city," the official said.

The official said that the city has also stepped up its pace in developing more pocket parks, aiming to improve the living environment for residents.

"Our target is to allow every resident in the city's urban areas to enjoy green spaces within 300 meters and to access parks within 500 meters," the official said.

The city is currently home to more than 20 pocket parks and a greenway system stretching more than 34 kilometers.