A water bus cruises along the Liujiang River. [Photo by Li Bin/Xinhua]

Liuzhou has become the largest industrial base in Guangxi and one of the China’s major industrial cities since the 1980s. As a result of industrial development, air pollution in Liuzhou became very serious. Acid rain was common in this area, and Liuzhou was accordingly called “the city of acid rain” at that time. Data from Liuzhou’s environmental protection department showed that the PH degree of Liuzhou’s acid rain was once lower than 4, which brought enormous harm to the forestland around the city.

Liuzhou has been changing the distribution of its industry since then. It closed many factories which were environmentally polluting and energy consuming and built 10 wastewater sewage treatment plants to improve Liuzhou’s environment. Recent data showed that Liuzhou’s environment has improved a great deal. The air quality of 29 days in July was regarded as very good.