Yancheng of Jiangsu province, one of the three major cities involved in the province's coastal development plan, views the ecological system as its most important strategic resource and insists that economic development should not come at the cost of the environment and ecology, said Zhao Peng, Party Secretary of Yancheng.

Jiangsu's coastal development plan, approved by the State Council in 2009, covers Lianyungang, Yancheng, Nantong and their affiliated counties. Three years on, development and construction in these areas are in full swing. In this context, Yancheng's "take it slow" path seems rather unique.

"Coastal development should be the work of generations, so we must leave enough room and resources for our descendents," said Zhao at a news briefing.

The city has set up a strict threshold for investment projects, denying enterprises that can not meet its environment conservation criteria. "Some criteria are even stricter than the ones drafted by Jiangsu province," added Zhao.

Yancheng has adopted measures to control the use of its ecological recourses since 2009, protecting its coastal line, salt land, scenery and tidal flats.

The city's long coastal line enables it to invent a new development model, Zhao told reporters, explaining that it locates the industry bases and plants in its five coastal counties and leaves the spaces in between untouched to balance the ecology.

Yancheng has invested heavily in building its Environmental Protection Industrial Park. The park mainly engages in environment-friendly technologies and cooperates with famous universities. It also offers support to new energy industries.

"Coastal development is only at its initial stage and requires the endeavors of generations and the enterprise will benefit our offspring. Our generation is only the trail blazer," Zhao concluded.