This book closely focuses on the theme of "green development" and fully demonstrates the progress China has made in resource conservation, pollution control, and ecological protection since the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, and especially the splendid achievements of ecological progress since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. From the "development pain" of the traditional development model to the construction of ecological civilization, ecological progress has been included in the CPC's overall blue-print of the "Five-point Strategy." This book covers a breadth of topics including ecological construction, the circular economy, the low-carbon smart city, green consumption, climate change, and global contribution to sustainable development. From the anti-nature concepts of "changing Heaven and Earth" and "victory over nature" in the past, China is moving to today's green development philosophy that is in harmony with nature, from the traditional agricultural civilization and the modern Western industrial civilization to a new era of ecological civilization. With vivid language and detailed data, the authors demonstrate a panoramic green transformation to readers at home and abroad — a more beautiful China.

Where have we come from, and where are we going? In this day and age for China, I am always reminding myself to maintain this sense of history.

–Xi Jinping

From Xi’s speech when meeting with foreign attendees of the Second Understanding China Conference in Beijing, People’s Daily, January 5, 2016