Yantai, a coastal industrial city in East China's Shandong province, is redefining what it means to build a beautiful city. Through water restoration, land protection, and smart governance, the city is positioning itself as a national model for sustainable development — with tangible results already visible on the ground.

Yantai now boasts four national-level beautiful bays and 240.77 square kilometers of sponge city zones. In the first half of this year, 72.7 percent of its surface water sections achieved good quality, up 9.1 percent year-on-year. The Inner Jiahe River — once polluted by sewage and runoff — has been turned into an ecological corridor, with over 38,000 patrols and more than 400 issues addressed.

Beyond water, Yantai is reinforcing soil safety through soil protection and green space expansion. The Golden River ecological corridor has been recognized as a national model, and over 60 percent of the central urban area is now sponge city compliant — making Yantai one of the few cities nationwide to achieve the feat. Mine restoration and "zero-waste city" initiatives are also underway. 

Smart technology is driving Yantai's environmental governance. An integrated monitoring network, powered by a "City Brain" platform, enables real-time detection of water and air changes. The city is advancing 54 major projects worth 14.7 billion yuan ($2.02 billion), with 34 already under construction.

Ultimately, Yantai's transformation is driven by its people. The upcoming "Most Beautiful Yantai Cases" campaign signals a shift from "required to protect" to "willing to protect" the environment. From planning to execution, Yantai is steadily building a replicable model — one that matters not only for Shandong but for the entire Beautiful China initiative.