'Green city' increases the life expectancy of the poor

The rich often live longer than the poor, but the gap in life expectancy is significantly reduced in cities with lots of recreational space such as parks, swimming pools, squares.

Scientists at the University of Glasgow (UK) analyzed data on life expectancy and income of 366,000 people in British cities in archival records. They then ranked cities by the number of public places such as parks, football fields, squares, swimming pools and forests. They call it ' green spaces '.

The results show that in urban areas with less green space, the death rate between the rich and the poor is nearly twice as high as in places with more recreational space. The difference is even greater if only the number of people who die from cardiovascular disease is considered.

Dr. Richard Mitchell, the lead researcher, said that this finding is very practical for urban planners. ' Scenes that enhance people's health can become useful tools in an effort to reduce longevity inequity,' he said.

Ma Yenshan City of China is one of the healthiest cities in the world.Located in the east of Anhui Province, the city's air pollution index is 0%.It is considered a typical model of environmentally friendly cities.(Photo: apps.ah.gov.cn)