The city of Xiamen in Fujian province is striving to transform itself into a sponge, capable of soaking up rainwater and retaining it for future use.
The "sponge city" program can help cities better absorb rain to improve the environment, save water resources and prevent waterlogging.
The program is in response to the growing need of upgraded water management infrastructure in China, a country wrestling with the twin problems of urban flooding and water scarcity. China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) has proposed to boost construction of flood-control and waterlogging-prevention facilities.
The campaign will cover 20 percent of China's urban areas by 2020 and 80 percent by 2030, Lu Kehua, vice-minister of housing and urban-rural development, said at a news conference on Oct 9.
Over the past half year, Xiamen, one of the first pilot cities for the program, introduced it in school and hospital areas by renovating streets with permeable materials, reconstructing drains, constructing storage facilities and installing "bioswale" -- gullies filled with drought-resistant plants.
The program will be later expanded to lake, reservoir and mountain areas.
To reach primary and middle school students, Xiamen is also editing a book on the program.
The idea of "sponge city", which emerged in the West and is gradually gaining popularity in China, is to store rainwater to prevent floods and for later release during water shortages.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
