Beijing is stepping up high-quality landscaping construction to expand the capital's green ecological space in efforts to improve the level of urban greening landscape.

The Chinese capital has greatly expanded green space on top of its urban layout over the past five years, inserting 323 "small and beautiful" pocket parks and micro-green spaces around residential areas.
Multiple rounds of afforestation and greening projects were also carried out, with more than 160 plant varieties selected to greatly increase city's size of colorful leaf woods.
"There have been really big changes in the past few years. The flowers, plants, and trees on the roadsides of the surround areas are becoming more beautiful, and the colors are much richer than before. People of course live a happy life in such an environment," said Ding Zhijie, a resident.
While continuously building a solid ecological foundation, Beijing is also actively exploring ways to utilize ecological development to boost its economy. In recent years, ecotourism has gained further traction among consumers, with a weekend escape in countryside homestays, fruit picking, camping, and outdoor photography among the most popular recreational activities.
"During the golden autumn leaf viewing season, we have 12,000 visitors a day at peak times. Our boutique homestays are basically fully booked on weekends. By developing ecological leisure tourism, we have turned ecological advantages into development advantages. Our whole town has benefited greatly, and we truly felt that lucid waters and lush mountains as invaluable assets," said Zhou Sunwen, Secretary of CPC Committee of Shicheng Town in Beijing's Miyun District.
Up to now, Beijing's forest coverage rate has reached 44.8 percent, the urban green coverage rate has reached 49.3 percent. The city's colorful leaf forest area has exceeded 17,8000 hectares.
"Through high-quality landscaping, we will continue to expand the green ecological space in the capital, improve the level of urban greening landscape, use the beauty of ecology to create a colorful life for the residents of the capital. At the same time, through the development of forest tourism, forest health care and nature education, we will stimulate ecological consumption and contribute to the high-quality development of the capital," said Gao Dawei, director of the Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.