Hohhot boosts happiness index with people-oriented approach

Residents take a stroll along a lane lined by lush greenery in Hohhot. [Photo/Hohhot news network]

Hohhot city – capital of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – is accelerating the growth of industrial clusters and upgrading its urban economy.

It's well on the path now to becoming a modern regional center that radiates warmth and happiness.

Focused on building a modern industrial system, Hohhot is continuously strengthening its six major industry clusters. These helped deliver 9.7-percent GDP growth and a 22.6-percent increase in value added by large-scale industries in the first three quarters of 2023.

In recent years, Hohhot has also made significant progress in tackling air pollution. In 2022, it recorded a total of 329 days with good air quality – an increase of 11 days compared with the same period last year.

With a pollution compliance rate exceeding 90 percent, Hohhot now ranks first in the region and 13th nationwide in air quality improvement.

Hohhot has successfully addressed urban challenges by completing 81 previously isolated road sections, constructing 242 kilometers of elevated road networks and renovating 1,034 old residential areas.

Kids in Hohhot try out making cloth tigers. [Photo/Hohhot news network]

It has established 12 new or expanded primary and secondary schools, providing an additional capacity for 21,000 students and built 29 new kindergartens with 8,000 new enrollment spots.

Hohhot's efforts in promoting employment and entrepreneurship have resulted in 60,600 university graduates finding opportunities within the city, ranking it first in the region.

To boost its medical services, Hohhot is expanding the construction of national regional medical centers and improving the core competitiveness of public hospitals. Additionally, the city has explored and innovated new models for home-based elderly care, forming a comprehensive policy support system.