Hebei using environment to attract talents

Hebei province is using its clean, lush environment to attract people with innovative abilities and money to reside there.

Chengde, Hebei province, which is located north of Beijing, has a reputation for its fresh air and beautiful natural landscapes.

"The Empire Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) chose Chengde to establish his summer palace, demonstrating that Chengde is a great choice for living, and at the same time, being so close to the national political and economic center," said Zhao Fenglou, mayor of Chengde, also a deputy to the National People's Congress.

Zhao said the capital and many other cities in North China suffer from air pollution, while Chengde doesn't.

"In the spring, Chengde is a place for blossoms. In the summer, Chengde is a place to enjoy a cool breeze. In the fall, Chengde is a place for fruit picking. In the winter, Chengde is a place for skiing," the mayor said.

Zhao is confident top leaders will improve coordination in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the 2014 government report, aiming to ease the overcrowding in the capital.

"Beijing is overwhelmed with people from all over the world. As a nearby city, Chengde is able to accommodate more people from the capital," Zhao added.

Chengde is 230 km away from Beijing and 330 km away from Tianjin.

Construction on a high-speed railway connecting Beijing and Chengde will begin in March, and is expected to take six years to complete. "It will only take 40 minutes to travel to Beijing when the high-speed railway is completed," Zhao said.