User:Mikehan1020/Tourism in China

Tourism is a growing industry in China and is becoming an important part of the country's economy. In the decades since the reform and opening up, the development speed of tourism has been greatly improved.The emergence of a new affluent middle class and the easing of restrictions on movement by the Chinese authorities have fuelled the tourism boom. China has become one of the world's largest outbound tourism markets. China's tourism industry is on the verge of a sustained global boom, xinhuanet reported.

The past three decades have witnessed rapid tourism development in China, along with its sustained economic growth and closer integration into the world. As of 2015, China is the fourth most visited country in the world, after France, United States, and Spain, with 56.9 million international tourists per year.

In 2017, tourism contributed about CNY 8.77 trillion (US$1.45 trillion), 11.04% of the GDP, and contributed direct and indirect employment of up to 28.25 million people. There were 139.48 million inbound trips and five billion domestic trips. Data from 2016 indicated that the majority of China's foreign tourists came (transferred) from South Korea, and Japan. Among the number of tourist arrivals who stayed for at least a night, 4.19 million from South Korea, and 2.69 million from Japan. The number of tourist arrivals from foreign countries directly to China is 21.65 million.

China ranked second in the world for travel and tourism's contribution to GDP in 2014 ($943.1 billion), and first in the world for travel and tourism's contribution to employment (66,086,000 jobs in 2014). Tourism, based on direct, indirect, and induced impact, accounted for 9.3 percent of China's GDP in 2013.

Since 2012, tourists from China have been the world's top spender in international tourism, leading global outbound travel. In 2016, the country accounted for 21% of the world's international tourism spending, or $261 billion. (Do note that the stats include journeys made to the special administrative South Korea; in 2017, these accounted for 69.5m of the so-called "overseas" journeys.) As of 2018, only 7% of Chinese had a passport, so the "potential for further growth is staggering", according to a UK news report. On its current scale, it is hard to imagine the intensity of anti-tourism sentiment in China when the country was founded 60 years ago.

The rapid development of tourism means more people come to China. It can become an important contributor to China's domestic economy since the beginning of reform and opening in the early eighties. It can prompt the nation's growth as money from tourism provides security and ensures growth opportunities for countries with weak infrastructure or no profitable exports. In addition, the creation of job positions and the cutural communications are its prons as well. However, the tourism's development also brings disadvantages to China, such as environmental deterioration, resource allocation problems, poor working conditions, exploitation of culture, and so on.

Contents

 * 1) History
 * 2) Tourism Policy Making in China
 * 3) Language
 * 4) Cities
 * 5) Tourism Resources
 * 6) Tourism Statistics
 * 7) Imbound
 * 8) Tourism Development in Modern China
 * 9) Tourism Themes
 * 10) Consequences of Rapid Development of Tourism
 * 11) Solutions to relieve climate crisis brought by the tourism
 * 12) References

History of Tourism in China
Between 1949 and 1974, the People's Republic was closed to all. In the late 1970s, when Deng Xiaoping decided to promote tourism vigorously as a means of earning foreign exchange, China started to develop its tourism industry. Major hotel construction programs greatly increased the number of hotels and guest houses, more historic and scenic spots were renovated and opened to tourists, and professional guides and other service personnel were trained.

Before 1978, the main purpose of tourism in China was to promote the achievements of socialist China, expand China's political influence, and promote international understanding and friendship by receiving guests and tourists. After the death of the president Mao, Deng Xiaoping, opened up the Middle Kingdom to outsiders. In 1978, an estimated 1.8 million tourists entered China, most of them from the United Kingdom's Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and Taiwan. The expansion of domestic and international airline traffic and other tourist transportation facilities made travel more convenient. Over 250 cities and countries had been opened to foreign visitors by the mid-1980s. Travellers needed only valid visas or residence permits to visit 100 locations; the remaining locales required travel permits from public security departments. In 1985 approximately 1.4 million foreigners visited China, and nearly US$1.3 billion was earned from tourism. By 2000, in addition to the above three regions, the number of foreign tourists increased by more than 10 million. Tourists from Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States account for the largest share of the incoming population. During the 1990s, the Chinese central government also issued several policies to encourage the Chinese to travel domestically, as a means of stimulating consumption. In 1999, over 700 million trips were made by domestic tourists. Outbound tourism by Chinese citizens recently become popular, as well. This is due to a rise in the Chinese middle-class. The pressure presented by this new class of citizens with disposable income has caused the government to ease international travel restrictions greatly. By the end of 1999, fourteen countries, mainly in Southeast and East Asia, were made designated overseas destinations for Chinese residents. Today, over a hundred countries have made it onto China's approved destination list, including the United States and many European countries.

Tourism Policy Making in China from 1949
Mao Zedong (1949-1978); Deng Xiaoping (1978-1997) and the Collective Leadership Era (1997-the present). The attitudes and values of leaders and central government agencies towards tourism are considered, as well as the interactions of ideological orthodoxies, socio-economic conditions and institutions in their influence on national policy-making and tourism development.

Maozedong era:
In 1949, when Mao zedong and the Chinese communist party (CCP) complete control of the mainland of China, his government by banning domestic flow (except for communist party officials) effectively banned all domestic tourism, tourism development is acceptable development plan from the bourgeoisie, the international access to become a diplomatic tool to demonstrate achievement of the communist party,Only a few "friends of China"

Deng xiaoping era:
Deng Xiaoping sets his 'Open Door' policies of 1978 some three decades later, fewer than 250,000 international visitors penetrated the 'Bamboo Curtain' that Mao drew over China. However, as one component of Deng's policies, tourism became an approved area for development, and overseas visitors were progressively permitted to enter China.

Since the assumption of power by the Communist Party in 1949, three main stages in the evolution of tourism development can be identified. First there was 'nontourism’under Mao Zedong, followed by what has been recognized within China as the two phases' phenomenon. Phase one is known as 'cultivation', 1978–1991, when tourism emerged as a new and acceptable form of development from the restrictive emphasis of Mao on collectivization of industry and agriculture through State-owned enterprises (SOEs) or yangqi; and Phase two as the 'growth phase' from 1992 to the present, when a private tourism sector began to emerge that has progressively adapted to a market economy. Because of its elevation to the status of a 'pillar industry' in 2009, one can suggest that in fact tourism in China then embarked on a third phase which is still continuing, called here 'Phase Three – Strategic national development contributor'.

Language
Some form of Chinese is virtually universal in China, with Mandarin as the standard form and many other varieties also in use; some, like Cantonese and Shanghainese, have tens of millions of speakers. Although the vast majority of Chinese do not speak English, due to the educational system, many Chinese near and in urban areas can read and write it, even though they may have difficulty with spoken English.[ According to research completed by The Daily Telegraph in 2017, less than 1 percent of people (some 10 million) in China speak English conversationally. Shanghai - Skyline Sunset 0057.jpg's skyline attracts foreign and domestic tourists to view it from the Bund]]

Notable ancient capitals

 * Nanjing, Jiangsu
 * Luoyang, Henan
 * Xuchang, Henan
 * Hangzhou, Zhejiang
 * Zhengzhou, Henan
 * Anyang, Henan
 * Kaifeng, Henan
 * Xi'an, Shaanxi



=== Renowned historic cities and old towns                                                                                                                                                                                        === Grand Canal tour boat of a traditional style Pingyao, Shanxi Nakhi dongjing musicians in Lijiang, Yunnan

Old City God Temple in Shanghai Tour boats in Suzhou, the "Venice of the East"


 * Changsha, Hunan


 * Chongqing
 * Guangzhou, Guangdong
 * Chengde, Hebei
 * Zhengding, Hebei
 * Jingziguan, HenanChinese music in Lijiang, Yunnan, China.jpg
 * Wuhan, Hubei
 * Fenghuang, Hunan
 * Huai'an, Jiangsu
 * Luzhi, Jiangsu
 * Suzhou, Jiangsu
 * Tongli, Jiangsu
 * Yangzhou, Jiangsu
 * Zhenjiang, Jiangsu
 * Zhouzhuang, Jiangsu
 * Wuyuan, Jiangxi
 * Shenyang, LiaoningCanal tour boat of a traditional style, Grand Canal, Suzhou, China.jpg
 * Hancheng, Shaanxi
 * Jinan, Shandong
 * Qufu, Shandong
 * Shanghai & Zhujiajiao
 * Pingyao, Shanxi
 * Chengdu, Sichuan
 * Huanglongxi, Sichuan
 * Lizhuang, Sichuan
 * Tianjin
 * Dali, YunnanJuyongguan Great Wall.jpg
 * Jianshui, Yunnan
 * Lijiang, Yunnan
 * Nanxun, Zhejiang
 * Wuzhen, Zhejiang
 * Xitang, Zhejiang

Toursim Resources
Tourist resources in China can be divided into three main groups: natural sites, historical and cultural sites, and folk customs. China hosts the world's largest number of World Heritage Sites (55).

Natural sites
The terraced rice paddies of Yuanyang County, Yunnan Mount Emei, Sichuan Zhang jia jie China's mountains, lakes, valleys, caves and waterfalls:

Mount Tai (Tai Shan) in the east, Mount Hengshan in the south, Mount Hua in the west, Mount Hengshan in the north, and Mount Song in the center of China have been called the Five Sacred Mountains since antiquity. The Taishan massif, which snakes through central Shandong, is admired by Chinese as paramount among them. Another mountain celebrated for its beauty is Huangshan in southern Anhui, known for its graceful pines, unusual rocks, cloud seas and hot springs.

Jiuzhaigou, Huangguoshu Waterfall, and Guilin are all located in southwestern China. Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan is a beautiful "fairyland valley" running over 40 km through snow-covered mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forest. The Huangguoshu Waterfalls in Guizhou are a group of waterfalls, 18 above-ground and four below, which can be heard from five km away. The Li River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region winds its way through karst peaks for 82 km between Guilin and Yangshuo.

On the plateau in northern China are many spectacular lakes. The Tianchi (Heavenly Pool) in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Autonomous Region is 1,980 meters above sea level. This 105-m-deep lake is crystal clear, the high mountains surrounding it carpeted with green grass and colorful flowers.

Along the renowned Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are many scenic spots and historical sites; the Qutang Gorge is rugged and majestic, the Wu Gorge elegant, deep and secluded, the Xiling Gorge full of shoals and reefs and rolling water. The Lesser Three Gorges are lush with greenery, flanking water so clear you can see to the bottom. The Three Gorges Dam built here is China's biggest key hydro-power project.

Historical and cultural sites
Beauties Wearing Flowers, by Zhou Fang, 8th century

China's long history has left many cultural relics and the title of "China Top Tourist City" has gone to the first group of 54 cities. The Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese nation, is also a prime example of historical sites that have become major tourist attractions. As the greatest defense-structure project in the history of human civilization, it dates back more than 2,000 years ago to the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods - huge in its scale and grandeur. There are more than ten sections of the Great Wall open to tourists, including the passes, blockhouses and beacon towers at Badaling in Beijing, Laolongtou in Hebei and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu.

Grottoes filled with precious murals and sculptures are concentrated along the ancient Silk Road in Gansu. The best known are the Mogao Caves, a "treasure house of oriental art", with 492 caves with murals and statues on the cliff faces. There are 45,000 sq m of murals and over 2,100 colorful statues, all of high artistry. In the south, grotto art is represented in Sichuan by the Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into a cliff face. Seventy-one meters high and 28 meters wide, it is the largest sitting Buddha in stone, showing the carving skill of ancient craftsmen.

The Shaolin Temple in Henan, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and famous for its Shaolin Kung Fu martial arts, dates back to 495 AD. Here can be seen the Ming period Five-Hundred-Arhats Mural and Qing period Shaolin kungfu paintings. In Hubei, the beautiful Wudang Mountain, with 72 peaks covering an area of 30 km2 (12 sq mi), form a sacred site of Taoism, which preserves one of China's most complete and largest-scale ancient Taoist architecture. In western Sichuan, Mount Emei, dotted with ancient Buddhist temples and structures, is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains｡

Most of China's 101[citation needed] cities classified as famous historical and cultural cities are over 1,000 years old. South of the Yangtze River, Suzhou and Hangzhou, long known as "paradise on earth", are crisscrossed with rivers, lakes, bridges, fields and villages, as beautiful as paintings. Today's well-preserved ancient cities includes that of Pingyao in central Shanxi, but was also the site of the Neolithic era Yangshao and Longshan cultures, 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Ancient Lijiang in Yunnan is not only the center of Dongba culture of the Nakhi ethnic group but also a meeting place for the cultures of Han, Tibetan and Bai ethnicities. Built in the Song dynasty, this city has many stone bridges, stone memorial arches and dwelling houses, which provide precious materials for architectural history and can be called a "living museum of ancient dwelling houses."

Folk customs
Lugu Lake, Yunnan

"March Street" celebrated by the Bai people in Dali, Yunnan, is associated with the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy suppressing a devil to help the Bai people. It became traditional to burn incense and offer sacrifices to commemorate her virtues every year and the festival has become a major annual gathering for Bai commercial, cultural and sports activities.

The Water-Sprinkling Festival of the Dai ethnic group in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, is a lively occasion taking place in the spring. People chase and pour water (a symbol of good luck and happiness) over each other, among other activities such as dragon boat racing and peacock dance.

Lugu Lake between Sichuan and Yunnan has become a tourist destination following the building of a new highway giving access to this area. The matriarchal society of the 30,000 local Mosuo people is noted for its "no marriage" traditions and is called the last women's kingdom on the earth. Mosuo women, local dugout canoes and undulating singing style are considered unique to Lugu Lake.

Vistor/ Tourism Statistics
Most visitors arriving in China were from the following areas of residence or countries of nationality : Top 20 China Destinations for Overseas Tourists :

Imbound
China has become a major tourist destination following its reform and opening to the world in the late 1970s instigated by Deng Xiaoping. In 1978, China received about 230,000 international foreign tourists, mostly because of the severe limitations that the government placed on who was allowed to visit the country and who was not.

In 2016, overnight visitors increased 4.2% over the same period of 2015 to 59.27 million (of which over 60% came from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). The corresponding income increased to US$120 billion, an increase by 5.6% over the same period of 2015.

Tourism Development in Modern China
The period examined is from 1978, a turning point for China's development, to the present as the economic reform policy by Deng Xiao-ping was publised in 1978. Tourism is a new industry in China. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 57.6 million foreign tourists entered the country in 2011, generating more than $40 billion in revenue. China is now the third most visited country in the world, after France and the United States. However, unlike many other developed economies, tourism is still considered a relatively new phenomenon in China.

== Tourism Themes == The China National Tourism Administration promotes a tourist theme every year; 1992 was "Friendly Sightseeing Year." Then came "Landscape Tour", "Tour of Cultural Relics and Historical Sites", "Folk Customs Tour", "Holiday Tour", and "Ecological Environment Tour." From 2000 to 2004, the themes were "Century Year", "Sports and Health of China", "Folk Arts of China", and "Culinary Kingdom of China", and "Catch the Lifestyle."

The themes for 2005 were "China Travel Year" and "Beijing 2008 -- Welcome to China." In order to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the international tourism industry, the China National Travel Administration is planning a series of related events, including the Shanghai-hosted "2005 International Tourism Fair of China", the Beijing-hosted 2005 annual meeting of the Federation of Travel Agencies of France, and "the 2005 China-Australia Tourism Symposium." The China International Online Travel Fair 2005 held in March was comprehensive, providing an online exchange and trading platform between tour companies themselves and with their customers.

Since 2013, all regions in China have had tourism publicity events under the "Beautiful China" umbrella, but with a different theme for each area. The year 2018 was declared as "Beautiful China – Year of Integrated Tourism" while 2017 was declared as "Beautiful China – Year of Silk Road Tourism".

Positve consequences:

 * 1) Economic growth: One of the most outstanding and important pros for tourism is, of course, the money it brings in. Tourism can easily generate a massive amount of wealth. This positive factor becomes ever more important for all third world countries. It is especially beneficial for countries that use tourism as their primary source of income. It allows for the flow and exchange of various currencies, both national and foreign, which is expected to have as a result the development of both local and foreign trade, through the import of commodities, services, and capital goods. The latter tend to not only have a positive impact on industrial development, but also raise the level of social welfare. China is known for its massive land and abundant tourism resources. The growing travel demands from both domestic and international travelers have provided new opportunities for the growth of China's tourism industry. Seeing potential benefits from tourism, the Chinese government has also given great support to the 'Speed up the Development of Tourism Industry’ programme and has recognized tourism as one of China's strategic industries . On the other hand, this study shows that although the increase of tourist arrivals drives the growth of tourism employment, it also causes great environmental pressure on the natural environment and tourism resources. The implication of this finding is that the Chinese government should take active action to protect valuable tourism resources and the environment. The Chinese government has started to promote low carbon environmental tourism by advocating the idea of ecological tourism and green environmental protection.
 * 2) Development of Country's strength: With the influx of wealth, countries can further develop and grow. Money from tourism provides security and ensures growth opportunities for countries with weak infrastructure or no profitable exports. Catering to tourists is also pushing countries to improve their infrastructure - not just with money, but for the money. This means that poorer countries will be able to create the means needed to build infrastructures like roads, hotels, highways, schools and so on.
 * 3) Creation of jobs: Tourism creates many different jobs within a country and therefore has a huge positive impact on the economy. Another direct benefit of tourism to a country is the undeniable increase in employment opportunities and the business opportunities it brings to the local people. Business from hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment facilities immediately flooded in from tourism. This leads them to look for more employees and give more opportunities to local people in each country. Tourism has been deemed as an industry that can effectively absorb surplus labourers . Since 1978, tourism in China has developed rapidly and has become the largest sector in the service industry . The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has forecast that China would become the number one tourism destination in the world by 2020 (UNWTO, 2001). Evidence indicates a bright future for China’s tourism industry.
 * 4) The fusion of culture: Tourism is a unique industry that promotes solidarity between people of different colors, backgrounds and traditions. It can also let people know more about the history and culture of each country. Therefore, culturally speaking, tourism helps to build connections between people from various backgrounds and social status. This creates understanding between different types of people and helps to encourage lasting economic, political and social relationships.
 * 5) Encouraging Conservation: One of the greatest advantages of tourism is that it becomes a major reason for countries to invest money to protect and protect local wildlife, and even historic sites or buildings in urban and rural environments. Once an area or building becomes part of the tourism industry, it provides financial support to the country in which it is located because it brings in wealth-creating tourists.

Negative consequences:

 * 1) Environmental Damage (climate crisis): With the rapid development of tourism, thousands, and in some cases, millions of foreigners come to China for a vacation. This can lead to immense environmental damage, especially in destinations that are extremely popular and tourist-heavy. Any development requires some intervention with nature. Overdevelopment comes at the expense of nature, which may cause damage to natural plants and animals. The local population has been displaced by the lack of development in the coastal areas . As more people are in the area, more natural resources may be needed, which leads to the depletion of natural resources.The problem of waste disposal has cropped up and the situation may worsen if proper measures are not taken to deal with the problem. Issues like more passenger flow, more transportation, more noise, and inappropriate waste disposal, the pollution in the area increased and disturbed the ecological balance of the region. Climate crisis has always being a key term for people to consider and it can be connected with various aspects in China. The public shall get that how does the history of China since 1976 and its decision to reintegrate its society and economy with market capitalist countries such as the United States look when we interpret it with the climate crisis in mind. The tourism can be related to the development of society and economy as well. Therefore, it makes sense to view the climate crisis as one of the most important consequences of the growth of tourism in China. Here a term called the China Price can be involved. It means the true cost of Chinese products that can show the competitive advantage in the marketplace. It is a sign of the development of the Chinese manufacturing industry. The world’s largest contract manufactures have sought the way to increase their competitive advantage and China is a suitable nation for them to have outsourcing . The cost of the China price is shown from the following aspects. On the one hand, it can motivate the rapid growth of Chinese manufacturers and provide more employment positions for workers.
 * 2) Exploitation of Culture: With so many tourists coming to enjoy certain famous lifestyles and traditions, we are beginning to see the commercialization of culture.This can have a negative impact on the local people of a country because instead of respecting and appreciating the culture from a distance, we impose countless tourists on the tradition. In this way, we have begun to turn the ancient custom into a product for sale, which seriously undermines the sacred culture. Due to the heavy traffic in the area, the infrastructure may not be able to cope with the increasing passenger flow, resulting in overcrowding and poor sanitation conditions, which may further lead to disease for tourists and locals . On the other hand, it will attract more foreign consumers as their travel costs will be lower so that there will have additional money can be saved to do other things. More consumers visit means that there must have additional burden to the natural environment, physical health, and available sources because the capacity of the environment is limited. Waste gas and sewage discharge from the daily life are unable to be controlled timely and effectively as the rapid increase of visitors enlarges the damage to air, water, and land, which also threatens people’s health directly. The world is closely connected with each other so that the increase of Chinese GHG emissions will be a bad news for the world as it will lead to extreme weather. Thus, ecological environment will be affected a lot with the rapid development of the tourism.
 * 3) The damage to scenic spots: The more people a country invites each year, the more likely it is to bring in tourists who don't respect local traditions and customs. Sometimes, tourists don't respect local culture and break certain nonverbal (or verbal) codes of conduct that are highly respected by a country's indigenous people.
 * 4) Loss of Jobs/ Lack Job Security: Although there is a sudden uptick in the job market, which can be surprising, there can also be significant downturns. Sometimes the jobs offered are seasonal and therefore inconsistent, allowing some locals to work only a few months a year. This can also lead to many locals stuck in a dead-end job that offers no room for growth. Continuing from the above point of view, tourism often creates seasonal jobs without any benefits or package packages. That means workers can easily lose their pensions and insurance. This is due to the inconsistent nature of the work and the fact that the company does not have a fixed customer base. As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the global travel and tourism market is predicted to see a loss of 100.8 million jobs worldwide in 2020.
 * 5) Unequal Infrastructure Growth: Tourism can generate so much revenue, countries tend not to focus on areas within their borders that do not attract tourists, but there is still a need to develop tourism for local people. This means that wealth is being transferred to places where it is not urgently needed, creating a yawning gap between rich and poor regions. This is sometimes evident in countries where tourism hotspots are overdeveloped, while infrastructure is still badly needed in other parts of the country.

Solutions to relieve climate crisis brought by the tourism
1. According to Becken and Hay (2007), there are four mitigation strategies whereby the tourism industry can reduce GHG emissions, namely: reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy, and sequester or store carbon through sinks. China is positively taking corresponding measures. The Chinese government requires industrial structure, growth, and consumption patterns to be more in line with the targets of energy and resource-saving and ecological and environmental conservation to build ecological civilization. It belongs to one of the five indicators, which requires industrial structure, growth, and consumption patterns to be more in line with the targets of energy and resource saving and ecological and environmental conservation. This transformation will be facilitated by wider adoption of a circular economic model that conserves and makes best use of resources, the derivation of a greater share of energy from renewable sources, effective control of emissions of main pollutants, and substantial improvement in ecological and environmental conditions.

2. All-inclusive hotels can be tempting, but keep in mind that these accommodations are often operated by international hotel chains, focused only on their own profits.When choosing a resort, try to find a certified eco-resort that is interested in fair working conditions for local employees, environmentally friendly buildings, organic and regional food, waste reduction and energy efficiency. Avoid activities that have a significant impact on the environment, such as motorized Tours, hunting, hiking in protected areas closed to the public and so on.

3. In 2013, President Xi Jinping created a plan called Belt and Road initiative. This plan was  basically to lend money to other developing countries to make them buy Chinese products or hire Chinese companies, which was an attempt to create an overseas market for state enterprises to export their excess capacity. BRI helps China further open itself to the world and accelerate its growth at the same time. At the first BRI Forum in 2017, the Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized “efforts should be made to strengthen cooperation in ecological and environmental protection and build a sound ecosystem so as to realize the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" . Green trade such as cap and trade mechanisms, finance and investment, as well as green technology and innovation, are seen as the key mechanisms through which the BRI can accelerate progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals . As Chinese financial institutions could provide financial resources to BRI countries to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement . As the world's largest supplier of renewable energy equipment, China could help to unlock the huge renewable energy potential of BRI countries, and share its knowledge and expertise on how to adjust policy targets, change subsidy structures, and reduce power wastage. The Digital Silk Road, which aims, for example, to build a network for collecting and sharing Earth observation data, could improve environmental monitoring and support sound policy-making in BRI countries. In this way, the BRI could thus contribute to the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, but concrete empirical demonstrations have not yet been explored.

4. China advocates the expansion of low carbon cities. Low carbon city is a sustainable urbanization approach that centers on curtailing the anthropogenic carbon footprint of cities by means of minimizing or abolishing the utilization of energy sourced from fossil fuels. It is issued under the background of rapid development of urbanization. Low-carbon development has been part of China's green cities programs for more than a decade. In 2008, low-carbon city pilot projects were launched in Shanghai and Baoding. The aim of low carbon city is to accelerate the transformation of the economic development pattern in the process of urbanization; Increase the use of low-carbon, energy saving and environmental protection technologies. Strengthen the development of low-carbon ecological cities is good for realizing the sustainable development but it requires the public's cooperation as well.