Since Maoming set out to become a national civilized city and a national sanitary city in 2017, the renewed old communities, clean roads, tree-filled streetscapes and civilized residents have become increasingly apparent.

Maoming was officially named a national sanitary city on Jan 14, 2021, as well as a national civilized city for the 2021-2023 period by the Civilization Office of the Central Communist Party Committee on Jan 26, the only city in Guangdong province to receive the honors this year.

According to a resident surnamed Zhang, "On the way to work, traffic police and volunteers direct and divert traffic. Drivers are showing more courtesy to pedestrians."

A volunteer helps an old woman cross the road. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

Maoming has also been promoting garbage sorting. Residents in the Lihong community said that garbage sorting has alleviated the problems of littering, untidy garbage bins, and difficulty in garbage removal, improving the living environment of the community.

A man disposes of garbage at a garbage sorting point. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

Maoming has established a volunteer service system to alleviate poverty, help orphans, and promote a positive mindset. Maoming has built a 12-kilometer-long ecological belt and more than 200 parks.

Maoming is also becoming increasingly beautiful. The city maintains 200,000 square meters of roads; has reconstructed 27 planned old community public facilities, eight small parks with 67 km of sewage pipe network, and 31,000 street lights; and has set up 4,125 garbage sorting waste bins and 600 garbage sorting points.

The beautiful Xiaodong River. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]