Report On the State of the Environment In China
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Acoustic Environment

General Situation

Road Traffic Noise: Among the 401 cities monitored, 13 cities (3.2%) had heavy noise pollution, 21 cities (5.2%) had medium noise pollution, 50 cities (12.5%) had light noise pollution. 141 cities (35.2%) had good acoustic environment on roads, and 176 cities (43.9%) had good urban acoustic environment.

Among the 47 key environmental protection cities, 5 cities had light noise pollution, 24 cities had relatively good acoustic environment on roads, and 18 cities had good urban acoustic environment. 

Area-wide Environmental Noise: Among the 352 cities monitored, 2 cities (which were Yan’an of Shannxi and Tieling of Liaoning, and which accounted for 0.6% of all cities monitored) had heavy pollution, 9 cities (2.5%) had medium noise pollution, 150 cities (42.6%) had light pollution, 178 cities (50.6%) had good area-wide acoustic environment, and 13 cities (3.7%) had good acoustic quality with equivalent sound levels of less than 50 decibels (A). 

Among the 47 key environmental protection cities, 21 cities had light pollution, 24 cities had relatively good area-wide acoustic environment, and 2 cities had good area-wide acoustic environment. 

Percentage of Cities with Various Degrees of Road Traffic Noise Pollution

Percentage of Cities with Various Degrees of Area-wide Noise Pollution

Comparison of Equivalent Sound Levels of Road Traffic Noise
 in 47 Key Environmental Protection Cities in 2003

Comparison of Equivalent Sound Levels of Area-wide Traffic Noise
in 47 Key Environmental Protection Cities in 2003

Countermeasures and Actions:

Noise Management during the National University Matriculation Examination Period: In 
order to provide a quite environment for students to take exams, noise management was 
strengthened during the High School Matriculation Exams and University Matriculation Exams, 
especially for noise on construction sites.

Building of "Noise Standard Attaining Zones": According to the requirement of the State 
Environmental Protection Administration, 3,573 "noise standard attaining zones" had been built 
across the country. It was 5.9% more than the previous year. They covered a total area of 
20,386.4 km2, which was 27.0% more than the previous year.