Zhuhai's Xiangzhou District was among the 24 counties, districts, and towns in Guangdong Province to receive a 5 million yuan ($762,412) award for outstanding achievements in building green belts. The reward will be used for further construction and promotion of green belts, as well as biodiversity research.

As of late 2021, Zhuhai has 123 km (76 miles) in green belts, with 14.9 km (9.3 miles) in Xiangzhou. The Xiangshan Lake, Yeli Island, and Qianshan River green belts are the three representatives in Xiangzhou.

Costing 189 million yuan ($29 million), the 4.4-km (2.7-mile) Xiangshan Lake Green Belt in New Xiangzhou gives full play to its ecological advantages and focuses on ecological restoration. The belt boasts a rich Lingnan (Cantonese) garden style and was named among the top 10 romantic green belts in Guangdong in 2021. 

Aerial view of Xiangshan Lake Green Belt [Photo courtesy WeChat account: zhxiangzhou]

The 4-km (2-mile) Yeli Island Green Belt, alongside Lovers Avenue in east Xiangzhou, was built in accordance with sponge city concepts. With total investment of 86.39 million yuan ($13.18 million), the belt is able to withstand once-in-a-decade floods.

Apart from ecological restoration, the green corridor has integrated functions like waterfront leisure and entertainment, commerce, and comprehensive services to make Yeli Island a hot spot for recreation and tourism. 

The Qianshan River is the only one flowing through downtown Zhuhai and has been called the city's mother river. After rounds of systematic management, it has been listed among Guangdong's top 10 most beautiful rivers and lakes.

A 6.5-km (4-mile) green belt from Changjiwei in Nanping to Fuxing Community in Wanzai along the river has been constructed at a cost of 129 million yuan ($20 million). It is able to withstand once-in-50-year floods.

By 2021, Guangdong province had built more than 2,900 km (1,802 miles) in green belts, which are ideal places for residents to enjoy leisure time and important for local ecological environment improvement, rural vitalization, as well as industrial transformation and upgrading.