Exploring Green in Qinling Mountains

As an important ecological security barrier in China, how can the Qinling Mountains region balance high-quality development and high-level protection? Recently, the reporter followed a high-quality development research team to travel through the Qinba Mountains in southern Shaanxi Province, witnessing the achievements of implementing the new development concept and transforming the economic development mode in the local area.

"The wall panels of the factory building are new building materials that we produce ourselves, which are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly," said Ma Yong, a staff member at the Shaanxi Lingnan Jiatai New Green Building Materials Production Project workshop located in Shangzhou District, Shangluo City.

In response to the challenge of tailings treatment, the local government is vigorously developing a circular economy. "Tailings are used to produce environmentally friendly building materials, which can not only reduce the overall cost by about 10%, but also have characteristics such as fire insulation, sound insulation, and noise reduction." Ji Jiawei, General Manager of Shaanxi Lingnan Jiatai Building Energy saving Materials Technology Co., Ltd., said that the first phase of the project can consume 200000 tons of siliceous tailings, 20000 tons of industrial gypsum, and 30000 tons of fly ash annually, mainly producing new green building materials.

"We regard the comprehensive utilization of tailings resources as an important way to ensure ecological environment security and promote ecological civilization construction, deepen strategic cooperation with research institutes and academician teams, promote the green, industrialized, and high-value comprehensive utilization of tailings resources." Wang Qingfeng, Deputy Secretary of the Shangluo Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, stated that the city has implemented a total of 128 comprehensive utilization projects for concrete aggregates, Portland cement, ceramic materials, etc., forming an annual production capacity of more than 20 million tons of tailings with a comprehensive output value exceeding 10 billion yuan.

"Focusing on securing the benchmark line for high-quality development, strengthening the ecological protection and governance of the Yellow River Basin; focusing on safeguarding the Central Water Tower and the ancestral lineage of the Chinese nation, serving as the guardians of the Qinling Mountains; focusing on ensuring that 'one clear water flows northward forever', strengthening the protection of the water source of the South to North Water Diversion Project; focusing on building the Northern Green Great Wall, and deepening the implementation of key projects such as the 'Three North'," said Wang Haipeng, Deputy Governor of Shaanxi Province.

Within the territory of Ankang City, the annual flow of the Han River accounts for 66% of the incoming water volume at Danjiangkou in the middle route of the South to North Water Diversion Project. The staff of Qinba Ecological Museum opened a video surveillance screen through the "Smart Water Quality Supervision Network", and saw the water surface shimmering and rippling with blue waves.

"This is the border of Shaanxi and Hubei on the Han River. We are working together to promote ecological construction and economic development, and the water quality of the Han River is stable and maintaining the national Class II standard for surface water," Chen Lian, member of the Standing Committee of the Ankang Municipal Party Committee, Minister of Propaganda Department, and Secretary of the Shiquan County Party Committee, told reporters. Gao Jinghua, member of the Standing Committee of the Ankang Municipal Party Committee and Executive Vice Mayor, introduced that last year, the proportion of eco-friendly industries in the local GDP reached 85%.

Siyinba Village in Chengguan Town, 5 kilometers away from Shiquan County, is the habitat of Crested Ibis, with beautiful scenery, peace and tranquility. The Phase I project of the Caochiwan Rural Complex under construction includes a rural reception hall, an e-commerce cultivation center, field classrooms, youth tourism, family workshops, and rural restaurants; The second phase mainly relies on local villagers to revitalize and transform idle houses, and entrust the operation team to increase added value.

"After the completion of the project, it is expected to receive over 60000 tourists annually, with an average annual income of over 30000 yuan per household." He Yi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chengguan Town, said that relying on the beautiful natural environment to promote rural revitalization not only enriches farmers and strengthens village collectives, but also attracts villagers to return to their hometowns for entrepreneurship.