According to a recent press conference held by Zhejiang authorities, all 11 Zhejiang cities at prefecture level or above saw remarkable improvements in air quality between October and November this year.

Data shows that the aforementioned cities' density of PM2.5 particulate matter (a major air pollutant in China) was confined to a range of 13 to 31 micrograms per cubic meter over the entire period, eclipsing the national standard of 35 micrograms.

The province's average PM2.5 density over the two months was 23 micrograms per cubic meter, 28.1 percent less than the figure in the same period last year.

Autumn and winter, which last roughly from October to March in most parts of the country, are usually the worst seasons for air quality, due to changes in weather and human activity. Therefore, local authorities nationwide make it a high priority to reduce air pollution in this period.

Zhejiang has made some major achievements in this regard. PM 2.5 density in the province's 11 cities saw a 19.6-percent year-on-year decline during the period from October 2018 to March 2019. The same indicator from October 2019 to March 2020 dropped by a further 16.2 percent.

According to Wang Lei, director of the atmospheric environment department at the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ecology and the Environment, Zhejiang authorities are determined to make further progress in reducing seasonal air pollution this year by focusing on managing air pollutants in the petrochemical, chemical engineering, steel, industrial spraying, and shipping sectors.