China's ecological progress after the 18th CPC National Congress
Environment
After decades of rapid expansion, China is steadily shifting from GDP obsession to a balanced growth philosophy that puts more emphasis on the environment.
China.org.cn丨Updated: August 18, 2017
![Xixi wetland in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. [File photo: Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/site1007/2017-08/18/f44d307d90cc1aff6cfc19.jpg "Xixi wetland in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. [File photo: Xinhua]") |
Xixi wetland in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. [File photo/Xinhua] |
Better water system
Over the past five years, about 300,000 mu (1 mu= 0.07 hectare) of shrinking wetlands were restored, and about 200,000 mu of farmland returned for wetlands development.
By the end of 2016, 67.8 percent of the country's surface water was qualified as grade I to III, meaning it is clean enough for direct human use, while water in the lowest "below V" grade, meaning it is so polluted that it has lost virtually all functions, fell to 8.6 percent.