Seventy years ago, Taishan Mountain stood nearly barren with forest coverage of just 2 percent. Today, it represents one of China's most remarkable ecological turnarounds, with the forest coverage rate reaching 94.8 percent across its 12,000-hectare protected area.

As Shandong's largest State-owned forest farm, Taishan Mountain has become a model of sustained conservation, symbolized by a stone relief commemorating 50 years of dedicated reforestation.

Taishan Mountain serves as both an ecological emblem and a developmental engine for Tai'an. In recent years, adhering to green development principles, the city has implemented comprehensive measures to advance ecological conservation on Taishan Mountain. Using ecology as a foundational element, Tai'an has expanded governance across the region, cultivated eco-friendly industries, and boosted high-quality urban development.

Driven by green development principles, Tai'an has expanded ecological governance beyond the mountain. Efforts include specialized breeding programs for native species like the Taishan mountain ash, a tree species unique to the mountain, overcoming low germination and survival rates to cultivate over 2,000 rare plants in labs. Enhanced biodiversity is reflected in the resurgence of wildlife — 376 wild bird species, including protected ones like the Chinese merganser, and over 3,000 insect species have been recorded.

Ecological preservation has also fueled the city's tourism growth. By transitioning from ticket-based revenue to an integrated tourism economy, Tai'an attracted 94.3 million domestic visitors in 2024, generating 90.27 billion yuan ($12.7 billion) in revenue. The average length of visitor stays increased to 2.2 days, with Taishan Mountain itself drawing over 8 million tourists for the second year in a row.

Recognized as a national forest city and a leader in eco-competitiveness, Tai'an exemplifies how ecological commitment can shape sustainable urban development. With continuous investment in aerial and terrestrial ecological monitoring, the city ensures that its natural and economic futures thrive together.

Taishan Mountain serves as both an ecological emblem and a developmental engine for Tai'an. [Photo/WeChat account: china-taishan]