It's the kind of living environment many people dream of: mellow mineral water, blue sky, fresh air and vast forests.

 

Baishan can help you realize your dreams, as it has been labeled as one of the cities with the world's best mineral water resources.

 

Baishan in Jilin Province has won a series of laurels, including the "International Mineral Water City" and the "Demonstration Zone for the Sustainable Development of Mineral Water Resources" - both named by the International Foundation for the Protection of Drinking Water.

 

Grant Hoskins, vice-chairman of the foundation, said Baishan had been named by the foundation as one of cities with the largest amount of mineral water resources in the world.

 

With the Yalu River, Songhua River and 12 other rivers running through the city, Baishan is rich in water resources.

 

It has 8 billion cubic meters of water reserves with per capita resources 2.7 times above the country's average, while the theoretical deposits of hydro-energy stand at 1.06 million kilowatts.

 

To date, 53 hydropower stations in Baishan have been built or expanded.

 

Rich underground mineral hot springs give the city an edge in building an international mineral water city.

 

So far, Baishan has been certified to have 130 mineral spring sources, with a daily flux of 260,000 cubic meters.

 

The foundation has tested Baishan's mineral water in terms of more than 200 indices and come to the conclusion that Baishan is one of the world's three major mineral-water enriched areas, with the other two being the Alps and Northern Caucasia.

 

The mineral water here possesses different properties, such as silicic acid, carbonic acid, strontium, lithium, and compounds of multiple elements.

 

Proven mineral water sources are mostly in the Changbai Mountain area, where the vegetation is flourishing and the rainfall is plenty.

 

At present, the city has stepped up efforts to develop the mineral water industry.

 

In line with the guideline of combining development and protection, Baishan now produces 1 million tons of mineral water a year.

 

According to the city's development plan, its annual production capability is expected to reach 3 million tons by the end of 2010.

 

Well-known domestic corporations such as Wahaha, Nongfu Spring and Quanyang Spring have now set up production bases in Baishan.

 

And Tinghsin International Group has also arranged an operation in Baishan to tap into the huge mineral water market.

 

(China Daily August 9, 2006)