Jinan, the final provincial capital along the Yellow River, is positioning itself as a key city in the river basin. By seizing opportunities and building on its strengths, Jinan is crafting a new chapter in its development along the river.

With a focus on ecological preservation, Jinan has prioritized pollution control in its quest for sustainable growth. Since 2019, the city has seen a 30.1 percent reduction in PM2.5 levels and a 45.5 percent fewer days with heavy pollution. Its water quality remains among the best in the province, and soil conditions continue to improve.

Major flood control projects have also been successfully completed such as the resettlement project that granted 339,000 residents living in the Yellow River floodplain their dream of safe housing.

The Luokou section of the Yellow River standardized embankment in Jinan. [Photo/Zhang Qingmin]

Water conservation is another key focus for the city. Jinan has now seen 25 consecutive years of the Yellow River's uninterrupted flow. In 2023, the city’s water usage per unit of GDP dropped by 17.6 percent compared to 2020, positioning Jinan as a provincial leader in water management and conservation.

As Jinan undergoes an ecological transformation, its high-quality development is progressing at a strong pace.

One of the bridges in Jinan across the Yellow River. [Photo/Integrated Media Center of Jinan's Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation]

The city plans for 34 river bridges and tunnels: 18 are complete, seven are under construction, and nine are in the planning stage.

This improved infrastructure is accelerating Jinan’s northward expansion. In the three years since the approval of the Jinan's Start-up Area for Growth Drivers Transformation, 278 industrial projects have been introduced, including 60 from Fortune 500 companies.

As a central city in the Yellow River basin, Jinan is also playing a key role in promoting regional cooperation. The city is strengthening ties with other Yellow River cities, such as Zhengzhou and Xi’an to drive coordinated regional development and achieving new milestones.