Breathing fresh life into "smog city"
In China, the city of Lanzhou demonstrates how communities around the globe can improve their air quality with the help of natural gas. Watch this video to see the impact.
Watch: How air quality has improved in Lanzhou, China as people switch their boilers from coal to gas
Title: China Gas - Lanzhou_Global version_ENG
Duration: 3:27 minutes
Description:
China Gas - Lanzhou_Global version_ENG Transcript
[Background music plays]
Upbeat music
[Video footage]
Shots of a man running through the streets of Lanzhou
[Dialogue: Wang Lei (Subtitled)]
To me running is a part of life. If it was ten years ago, I wouldn't run very far because the air wasn’t as good as it is now.
[Video footage]
Interview of Wang Lei
[Title]
WANG LEI
LANZHOU RESIDENT
[Dialogue: Wang Lei (Subtitled)]
You wouldn’t want to run wearing a mask, right?
[Video footage]
Wide aerial shot of park in Lanzhou
[Title – Text on visuals]
TRANSFORMING LANZHOU
[Video footage]
Smoke dissolves in
Steel mills and plants dissolve in
Interview of Professor Ma
View of Lanzhou between mountains
Thick white smoke coming out of power plant flue
Wide shot of power plant with smoke coming out of power plant flues
[Dialogue: Professor Ma (Subtitled)]
In the 1950s, Lanzhou was China’s largest petrochemical base. It was a valley surrounded by mountains. So pollutants, once released, couldn’t escape. This caused massive pollution in Lanzhou.
[Title]
PROFESSOR MA JIANMIN
EXPERT COMMITTEE MEMBER
LANZHOU AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
[Video footage]
Wide shot of power plant with smoke coming out of power plant flues
Power plant flues among a polluted sky
Alleyway in Lanzhou
[Voiceover:]
Before 2013, Lanzhou was in the top 3 most polluted cities in China.
But the government has made huge inroads in clearing up the skies.
[Video footage]
Old woman walking
Interview of Professor Ma
Old lady putting coal into a coal boiler
Natural gas boiler
Shots of traffic on the road
[Dialogue: Professor Ma (Subtitled)]
The biggest source of air pollution in China is the burning of coal.
Coal used to be the dominant source of heating in winter. Coal has now been replaced with natural gas. This was the biggest measure taken. Public transport is now mostly powered by gas.
[Video footage]
Shots of traffic on the road
Natural gas boiler
Timelapse of building and sky
Old lady at a checkup with doctor
Cheerful baby
[Voiceover:]
With a three-year programme focusing on the coal to gas switch, Lanzhou converted over 1900 coal boilers, reducing CO2 emissions and significantly cutting air pollution, which has resulted in a 40% decrease in respiratory related hospital admissions.
[Video footage]
Shots of air monitoring panels
Shot of streets with traffic
[Voiceover:]
The city also initiated a strict air emission monitoring programme, ensuring low CO2 pollutant emissions in all the residential, commercial and industrial areas.
[Video footage]
Interview of Professor Ma
Timelapse of park
Child playing in a park
[Dialogue: Professor Ma (Subtitled)]
In 2013, we only had about 100 days, where the air quality met the country’s standards. Today, we have about 300 days each year.
[Video footage]
Couple walking in park
People dancing in park
Interview of Yao Weihong
Shot of blue sky
Water mill in the park
People taking a picture
Mother and child in the park
People walking in the park
[Dialogue: Yao Weihong (Subtitled)]
In the past, the sky in Lanzhou was grey. Now the sky is blue, it’s called “Lanzhou Blue”.
The people who come here are able to see the beauty of the city and the air is fresh.
[Title]
YAO WEIHONG
MANAGING DIRECTOR
GANSU TOURISM HOLDINGS
[Video footage]
Shots of roadside stalls
Cable cars
[Voiceover:]
This cleaner air has also improved the businesses of local residents, especially in the tourism sector.
[Video footage]
People walking in park
Temple monuments
People on a raft in the river
Speedboat on the river
Interview of Tiger Shan
[Dialogue: Tiger Shan (Subtitled)]
Tourism is an important pillar for the transformation of our country’s economy.
The tourism industry in Lanzhou is developing much faster than in the rest of the country. It’s growing at about 20% annually.
[Title]
TIGER SHAN
PARTNER
PWC STRATEGY&
[Video footage]
Mr Yao walking on the pavement
Mr Yao working in office
[Voiceover:]
Mr Yao runs a travel agency in Lanzhou, which has been in operation since 1979.
[Video footage]
Interview of Yao Weihong
Tourists taking photos
Tourists at Lanzhou bridge taking photos
[Dialogue: Yao Weihong (Subtitled)]
Before 2008, we would receive about 600,000 visitors. From 2008 to 2012, we would receive about 1.2 million visitors. This year, we received 2.8 million visitors.
And this has brought the city other forms of income. We used to rely on heavy industry, now we rely on tourism.
[Video footage]
Timelapse of tourists at Lanzhou bridge
Happy groups of people
Mother and child walking
Old man painting on the ground
Trees and the river
River
[Dialogue: Tiger Shan (Subtitled)]
Clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.
A good environment is of great significance to the development of our economy, and well-being of our people.
[Video footage]
Shots of man running along the river
Interview of Wang Lei
Shots of the Yellow river and green trees and clear skies
[Dialogue: Wang Lei (Subtitled)]
If the weather is good, I’ll go for a run. After running one or two kilometers, I’ll feel very fulfilled and happy.
In the summer, if it’s a clear day, you’re able to see the Yellow River, the green trees, the blue skies and the white clouds.
[Video footage]
Wide shot of the Yellow River and blue skies
[Voiceover:]
Thanks to “Lanzhou Blue”, the sky is now the limit for tourists and residents alike.
Shot of Wang Lei running
[Text displays]
#naturalgas
[Background music ends]
Lanzhou was once known as the “smog city” of China.
“Ten years ago, I wouldn't run very far because the air wasn’t as good as it is now,” recalls long-term resident Wang Lei, who now runs each day along the banks of the Yellow River, which flows through the city. “You wouldn’t want to run wearing a mask, right?”
Thankfully, Lei’s plight is just one of many that has changed, thanks in part to the conversion of coal-fired boilers to natural gas.
Since the start of a three-year programme to convert nearly hundreds of coal-fired boilers to natural gas, hospital admissions for respiratory problems have fallen in Lanzhou by around 40%.
More tourists are also visiting the city, the capital of Gansu province, as memories of its polluted past begin to fade.
Nearly 12,000 kilometres away, more than 12,000 people are gathering in Washington DC for one of the energy industry’s largest events, the World Gas Conference.
More than 600 speakers will discuss the strategic, commercial and technical challenges facing the industry as well as some of the regulatory changes ahead.
Back in Lanzhou, daily life will carry on under clearer skies, an example of what can be achieved as the world continues its progress towards a lower-carbon future.
More films in Inside Energy
Clearing the air over China
After struggling with smog for decades, skies over parts of China are beginning to clear. Watch how government policies encouraging gas over coal have made a difference to both air quality and business.
The Inside Energy interview: Maarten Wetselaar
Shell’s Director of Integrated Gas & New Energies talks carbon pricing, methane emissions and how to engage people on energy issues.
You may also interested in
Natural gas
We are helping to power lives around the world with natural gas, the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon.
Natural gas news and publications
Stay up-to-date with our latest natural gas news, films, stories and publications.
Energy and innovation
How we use human ingenuity, innovation and technology to unlock more, cleaner energy for the decades ahead.