Since it was recognized as a national civilized city in September 2017, Maoming has been guided by its unique, gentle culture and encouraged residents to become active participants and beneficiaries of the creation of a civilized city.

"From its open-pit mine ecological park to its ecological belt, more and more beautiful landscapes are being formed in the city," said a resident surnamed Qiu.

Maoming's ecological belt is the first ecological belt to run through the central urban area of a city in Guangdong province. After the completion of the second phase of the belt, it will connect parks, schools, and the Xiaodong River, creating a convenient, comfortable and beautiful ecological corridor.

Since 2017, Maoming has upgraded and renovated 21 planned communities, including Chaoyang community and 253 units in older communities, with an investment of over 300 million yuan ($47.08 million). It has also improved infrastructures such as roads, drainage, lighting, and parking lots, increased the amount of greenery, solved pressing issues adversely affecting the lives of residents, such as the cross-flow of sewage, waterlogging and parking difficulties, and improved the overall living environment.

Seventeen Maoming residents have been recognized as "Chinese good people", 59 as "Guangdong good people", and five as "good young people in the Guangdong new era". It is also home to 1,049,900 registered volunteers, 7,813 volunteer service organizations and teams, and 86 townships rated as civilized towns at the county level or above, while 96.04 percent of villages and towns in the city are recognized as "civilized".

Maoming's ecological belt. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]