NIGHT CROSSING: Bayi Bridge in Nanchang City turns off some of its lights as part of the city's support of the world's fifth Earth Hour on March 26, 2011 (YUAN ZHENG)

The Nanchang National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (NNHIDZ) is the only state-level hi-tech development zone in Jiangxi. However, the primary precondition of a company to settle in the zone is not its scale or capital strength but whether it is "green" or not.

"Years ago, a renowned Spanish enterprise engaged in dyeing and bleaching planned to invest $15 million to set up a branch in NNHIDZ. But the project failed to gain approval because it would consume a large amount of water and cause water pollution," Zeng told Beijing Review. "Every year, dozens of companies with huge investment are rejected for environmental concerns."

On June 6, the China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group officially started a 10-billion-yuan ($1.58 billion) project in NNHIDZ, including the building of a low-carbon industrial park as well as its regional headquarters.

In addition, in Qiaoshe, a northern suburb of Nanchang, there is another low-carbon industrial park. The park, covering an area of 30 square km, will focus on developing low-carbon building materials and low-carbon device manufacturing among other things. At present, a Sino-Austrian rock wool product project with an investment of 1 billion yuan ($158 million) has settled there. In the future, an integrated low-carbon industry chain is expected to take shape in the park.

"So far, Nanchang has established eight low-carbon industrial bases, each in a different industrial cluster. Low-carbon industries account for 30 percent of the total industrial output value of Nanchang. We will try to make low-carbon industries the pillar for Nanchang's economy as well as develop traditional industries in a low-carbon way," said Liu Hua.

Eco-agriculture

FREE RENTAL: A bicycle-sharing site in Honggutan New District in Nanchang (ZHOU KE)

Qianfang Township is located on the shore of Junshanhu Lake in Nanchang's Jinxian County. The vast area of orchards and tea gardens in the township presents tourists with a unique and pleasant sight. What's more, they are all cultivated using organic farming methods.

"The tea gardens are more than 600 hectares while the orchards cover an area of 530 hectares mainly farming pears and pomelos. As the gardens and orchards are all fertilized by natural fertilizers such as livestock waste, they cause very little pollution while the quality of fruits and tea is improved," said Tu Lihua, a local official.

The orchards and tea gardens are operated by eco-agricultural companies, but the organic farming methods also attract local farmers to join in.

"As the organic way of farming by the eco-agricultural companies can bring more economic benefits, many villagers follow their way with the help of the companies and incentives of the government, which not only increases the villagers' income but also brings many ecological benefits," Tu said.