Zhangjiagang, a county-level city in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, was included on the list of the top 10 demonstration counties and cities for high-quality development during the 2021 China Economic and Social High-quality Development Forum, local media reported on Dec 29.
The forum was dedicated to evaluating and honoring city models that have made outstanding achievements in high-quality development and shared their development experience.
Zhangjiagang's research and development expenditures accounted for 3.34 percent of GDP in 2021, and the city boasted 38 "little giant" enterprises above the provincial level, an increase of 40.74 percent year-on-year, and 785 high-tech enterprises in 2020.
It boasts 80.4 kilometers of Yangtze River coastline and the proportion of its ecological coastline has exceeded 50 percent. The ecological restoration of Zhangjiagang Bay has also been recognized by the United Nations.
In addition, since 2020, 2,800 mu (186.67 hectares) of forest has been planted along the Yangtze River, with a forest coverage rate of 19.86 percent.
Zhangjiagang has been dubbed one of China's happiest cities and designated a "national civilized city", with more than 80 percent of fiscal expenditures used to improve its residents' livelihoods.
In the past five years 57 schools have been built or expanded, and in the past two years 28 markets have been renovated. The city will continue to promote the renovation of old residential areas and the construction of pocket parks.