Blue skies and clear water in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
Wuxi, a city in East China's Jiangsu province, recorded sustained environmental improvements in 2025, with official data showing lower air pollution and stable good-quality water in Taihu Lake and its river network.
The 2025 Wuxi Ecological Environment Status Bulletin reveals that the annual average PM2.5 concentration was 26 micrograms per cubic meter. All State- and provincial-monitored river sections met Grade III water quality standards for the fourth consecutive year, while Taihu Lake maintained Grade III status for the second year.
China implements a comprehensive five-tier surface water quality classification system, with Grade I being the best. Water classified as Grade III is considered fairly good and suitable for most aquatic life.
To maintain water quality, Wuxi has combined source-pollution controls with ecological restoration, including automated monitoring systems and river dredging projects. The Liangxi River, once suffering from pollution and ecological degradation, exemplifies this success. A comprehensive rehabilitation initiative launched in 2022 has transformed it into a 6.5-km scenic corridor featuring sponge-city infrastructure, rainwater gardens, and constructed wetlands that create an internal water circulation system.
Taihu Lake in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
In air-quality management, Wuxi has retrofitted heavy industries to achieve ultra-low emissions, introduced new-energy construction vehicles, and deployed real-time dust control at construction sites. The city has also initiated low-carbon initiatives, including a certified carbon-peaking pilot zone and rural rooftop solar programs that supply clean power to local grids.
Looking ahead, Wuxi is preparing to meet stricter national air-quality standards issued in March, which impose lower limits for PM2.5 and PM10 and emphasize ozone control.
The city aims to reduce the annual PM2.5 concentration to 25 μg/m³ and increase the annual share of good-air days to over 85 percent during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30), supported by 41 designated upgrade projects. Additionally, it will enhance aquatic monitoring and implement tailored restoration plans for water bodies that have yet to achieve high-quality standards.
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