Linfen city, once plagued by a heavily coal-dependent industrial structure and poor atmospheric diffusion conditions due to its terrain, suffered from severe pollution. To address this ecological dilemma, the city embarked on a green transformation.

"Linfen blue" has become the norm, with urban environmental quality improving year by year. [Photo by Yan Ruipeng]

The Linfen Municipal Party Committee and government have driven a green and low-carbon transition across the city's industrial, energy, and transportation sectors, eliminating outdated production capacity.

During the "14th Five-Year" Plan (2021-25) period, Linfen shut down a total of 9.15 million metric tons of coking capacity and 220,000 tons of crude steel capacity. Traditional enterprises underwent green upgrades, with all 10 steel plants, seven coking enterprises, and 16 cement companies in the city completing ultra-low emissions retrofits.

Jinnan Steel Group (Jinnan) conducted environmental upgrades across its entire production process, optimizing workflows and controlling pollutant emissions.

Jinnan's upgrades achieve "garden-style production". [Photo provided by Jinnan]

Shanxi Minguang New Energy Technology Co (Minguang) has adopted advanced coke ovens paired with waste heat power generation to recover and convert the heat of red-hot coke into electricity through a dry quenching process, turning waste into treasure. It has also implemented a zero-discharge wastewater treatment project, achieving full-process treatment of industrial wastewater.

Minguang's production facility. [Photo provided by Minguang]

While greening and upgrading traditional industries, Linfen also fosters sectors such as manufacturing new energy equipment, hydrogen energy, the low-altitude economy, and modern logistics, marking a transition from reliance on a coal-dominated economy to a diversified, green, and low-carbon development model.

Jinnan's Taizi Lake Photovoltaic Park. [Photo provided by Jinnan]

By 2025, Linfen's average PM2.5 concentration dropped to 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter, marking the greatest improvement nationwide. The city has completely overcome its pollution woes, and the green transformation has cleared the skies.

Linfen's ancient city wall under blue skies and white clouds. [Photo by Yan Ruipeng]