What does an ecological civilization look like? China’s Guiyang City is showing the way

From its lush forest cover and ultra-clean air to its growing green economy and zero-waste goals, Guiyang is proving that cities can thrive without costing the Earth. And from 5–6 July, the world will gather here for the 13th edition of the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference, a celebration of ideas, action, and the future of sustainable cities, promoting harmony between humans and the environment, a journey that Guiyang has proudly led for years.

Home to 6.6 million people, the City of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province in southwest China, is embraced by rich biodiversity, lush mountains, and dense forests. In 2023, the city was recognized as part of the seventh group of National Ecological Civilization Construction Demonstration Areas, the highest honor granted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to recognize exemplary cities advancing environmental stewardship.

The city’s efforts are grounded in the concept of ecological civilization — considered the Chinese equivalent of sustainable development. According to Professor Jiahua Pan, Director of the Institute of Eco-civilization Studies at the Beijing University of Technology, ecological civilization is about a new development paradigm that goes beyond environmentalism, calling for a transformation of economics, agriculture, and culture to reflect ecological and social justice values—rooted in the ancient Chinese ideal of “nature and man as one.”

Guiyang has embraced this philosophy for decades. It became China’s first National Forest City in 2004 and has only grown greener since. Forest coverage rose to 55.3% in 2024, ranking it among the top three provincial capitals in the country. 

Remarkably, the city enjoys 99.5% good air quality days — a dramatic turnaround from the early 1980s, when Guiyang was one of the most polluted cities in China and among the top three cities affected by acid rain. The city began tackling air pollution in the late 1980s by shifting to cleaner fuels and phasing out outdated, polluting industries — a bold move that laid the foundation for the cleaner, greener Guiyang of today.

In 2023, Aha Lake Wetland Park was named one of China’s first National Forest and Grassland Science Popularization Bases. This initiative, jointly established and managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, has turned Guiyang into a national hub for environmental education and ecological research. 

These achievements earned Guiyang international attention. The city was selected by the CitiesWithNature platform, which recognizes and enhances the value of nature in urban areas worldwide. This recognition was announced at the 8th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities, an official parallel event to the CBD COP16 held in 2024 in Cali, Colombia, co-organized by ICLEI and the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Embracing circularity for a waste-free city

Guiyang is also determined to become a waste-free city. It is included in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2026), which aims to improve overall resource utilization capacity, build a resource recycling industrial system, and develop a circular economy.

Guiyang City actively implemented its “Ecological City” strategy, which promotes high-quality development through the establishment of a beautiful city that aims to drive both economic and social progress. Guiyang began this journey in 2002 when it introduced its “Regulations on the Construction of a Recycling Economy and Ecological City of Guiyang Municipality,” the first regional regulations on the recycling economy in China. 

With a recycling-based approach to heavy industries such as aluminum, phosphorus, and coal processing, the city launched the “Implementation Plan for Waste-Free City Construction,” which focuses on waste reduction and recycling efforts. By 2023, the city had established 352 waste-free units, including factories, schools, and hospitals. It also achieved 100% disposal of hazardous and industrial solid waste and an 86.4% domestic waste resource utilization rate.

This transformation is especially visible in the Guiyang Economic and Technological Development Zone (GETDZ) — a national eco-industrial park that has become a model for green manufacturing. Home to certified green factories, the zone supports high-tech, low-impact industries and is advancing dual carbon goals through sustainable innovation.

Guiyang’s green economy is growing steadily. In 2024 alone, the city saw the establishment of 88 green factories, 11 green parks, and nine green logistics parks.

The city’s green transformation is also visible in its markets. In the first half of 2023, 30% of the city’s markets were officially classified as “green,” offering fresh, locally sourced, and sustainable produce. The city is also home to 62 green restaurants and 16 green tourism hotels. From ecological vegetable bases to waste-sorting centers, Guiyang is building a circular, low-carbon lifestyle that reaches every resident.

Guiyang and ICLEI: Turning a decade of collaboration

Guiyang became China’s first ICLEI Member City in 2016. Since then, ICLEI has supported the city on various projects focused on international exchanges, green procurement, sustainable development, urban resilience, and improving air quality for its residents.

A flagship collaboration is the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference, established in 2009, China’s only national-level international forum on ecological civilization. ICLEI and Guiyang have co-organized the forum’s side events. In 2024, the forum launched the International Advisory Board, with ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin appointed as a member. The Board acts as a global think tank to guide the forum’s strategy, guidance, and new pathways for sustainable transformation.

Guiyang will once again welcome the world on 5–6 July 2025 to host the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference under the theme, “Harmonious Coexistence Between Humans and Nature,” bringing together local and global leaders, experts, and visionaries to chart the next chapter of the green transition. The City of Guiyang and ICLEI warmly invite cities, partners, and changemakers from around the world to be part of this inspiring event — and to experience the natural beauty and bold ambition of “Cool Guiyang” in summer, as the city’s slogan reads. This not only reflects Guiyang’s pleasant highland climate but also its progressive approach to ecological innovation, making it a refreshing destination for global dialogue on sustainability.

Read more about the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference here.