Since 1998, mining enterprises in the urban area have began moving out to suburbs, and today, 44 percent of the main districts in Changzhi are covered by green vegetation.

The EO has learned that many of the honors Changzhi has won since 2004 are in fact the first won in Shangxi. "Changzhi is keen for such titles. To some extent, Changzhi represents Shangxi," Sun says.