Workers inspect a tunnel that is part of Line 22 of Beijing's urban railway transit network, which passes through Langfang, Hebei province, last month. The line will link the capital's Pinggu district to its downtown area via Yanjiao, an area under the administration of Langfang but located just across the Chaobai River from Beijing. WANG XIAO/XINHUA Over 10 years ago, daring to hang your clothes out to dry was often a fool's errand in the dusty Luquan district in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, as they'd likely come indoors dirtier than they were before.

　　BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- In northern China, a megacity cluster -- known as "Jing-Jin-Ji" -- spanning an area of 216,000 square km and with a population of over 100 million, is emerging as one of the country's most dynamic, open, and innovative regions. Since February 2014, the coordinated development of the Jing-Jin-Ji region, or the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, has been a key national strategy.

　　SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- During the winter vacation, students at an elementary school in Xiong'an New Area, about 100 km southwest of Beijing, were seen reading in the school library, writing calligraphy, singing in classrooms and playing games on campus. They were enjoying the free winter vacation care service offered to students whose parents were too busy to take care of them.

　　BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Central Green Forest Park is a popular site in Beijing, with its lush vegetation and relaxing atmosphere, but aerial photographer Ma Wenxiao still remembers the place being black with chemical plants and chimneys when he first flew here 20 years ago. After shutting down the factory, the city planted trees and flowers, and created beautiful landscapes in the area.