On the morning of December 23, the Zhuhai Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau held a press conference. Statistical data showed that from January to November this year, the number of days with up to-standard ambient air quality in Zhuhai accounted for 96.1%, ranking consistently among the top tier of 168 key cities nationwide; the excellent water quality rate of the city’s drinking water sources reached 100%; and a smart prevention and control network for soil pollution of construction land, covering the whole process from source to end, is being further consolidated and improved to safeguard the urban soil safety.
Ambient Air Quality Ranks Among the Top Nationwide
The visible “Zhuhai Blue” has become the most appealing hallmark of the city. Data indicated that from January to November 2025, Zhuhai’s comprehensive ambient air quality index stood at 2.51, with 321 days meeting the Air Quality Index (AQI) standards, accounting for 96.1% of the total days, a year-on-year increase of 2.7 percentage points.
Preliminary statistics showed that Zhuhai ranked 13th in the air quality ranking of 168 key cities nationwide and 3rd among the 9 cities in the Pearl River Delta. The frequency of acid rain dropped by 15.2 percentage points. Behind this series of outstanding achievements lies Zhuhai’s persistent efforts in the critical battle for blue skies, with unremitting measures taken in industrial restructuring, clean energy substitution, and the prevention and control of mobile pollution sources.
100% Excellent Drinking Water Sources, Safeguarding the Source of Life
It was learned from the press conference that all nine major centralized drinking water sources in Zhuhai, including Dajingshan Reservoir, Ganwu Reservoir and Pinggang Pumping Station, have achieved excellent water quality standards, mainly Grade Ⅱ water of superior quality.
In terms of marine pollution prevention and control, Zhuhai monitored 47 offshore sea water quality stations in 2025, with the annual proportion of sea areas with excellent water quality reaching 78.5%. This figure not only exceeded the assessment target, but the coverage of such sea areas is also on a steady rise. A three-dimensional and all-round water environment governance and protection system, covering mountain reservoirs, rivers, lakes and seas, has ensured the clarity and long-term stability of Zhuhai’s water systems.
Consolidating the “Rule of Law + Smart Technology” Defense Line for Public Peace of Mind
Soil environmental safety is closely related to every household. In recent years, the Zhuhai Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau has focused on the safe utilization of construction land, and innovatively constructed a soil pollution prevention and control system featuring strict source prevention, rigorous in-process regulation and stringent risk control.
First, weaving a solid legal protection network. Zhuhai has strictly implemented the list system for risk control and remediation of soil pollution on construction land. For land plots included in the list, the development for residential use and land for public administration and public services is firmly prohibited until soil pollution risks are eliminated. By strictly examining the two critical procedures of land transfer and engineering planning permission, and issuing a number of local detailed implementation rules, Zhuhai has ensured soil management is conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.
Second, formulating a dynamic risk map. Zhuhai has established a unified regulatory service ledger with multi-departmental coordination, and set up a professional liaison team of more than 70 members. By intervening in the annual land supply plan in advance, Zhuhai has put forward classified management suggestions for more than 1,200 land plots since 2021, identifying potential risks early and resolving the time conflict between land development and ecological protection.
Third, tightening the accountability valve for enterprises. Zhuhai has moved the pollution prevention and control threshold forward with the dynamic management of the list of key supervision entities for soil pollution, and issued special work guidelines. By guiding enterprises to carry out green transformation, the city has reduced the risk of pollutant leakage and diffusion from the source.
Fourth, opening a fast track for soil surveys. For the investigation and assessment of soil pollution status, Zhuhai has boldly explored the integrated survey model for contiguous land plots. In 2025, the city implemented integrated surveys by merging multiple land plots into a single survey area, which cut fiscal expenditure by 15% and shortened the survey period by two months, achieving a win-win result of social and economic benefits. Since 2021, Zhuhai has completed the investigation and assessment of over 4 million square meters of land in total.
