Ecological　civilization　(EC)　has　been　seen　as　the　final　goal　of　social　and　environmental　reform　within　a　given　society.　Much　attention　has　been　paid　to　the　national　governmental　level　in　previous　studies,　and　district-　and　local-level　government　actions　have　been　a　lower　priority,　which　may　have　led　to　overlooking　key　details　of　management　institutions　and　policy　systems　in　relation　to　EC.　In　this　research,　we　aimed　to　make　a　significant　contribution　to　the　literature　by　tracing　the　EC　trajectory　and　policy　transitions.　Through　bibliometric　analysis　of　policy　documents,　we　reviewed　the　EC　construction　system　for　Fujian　Province　from　2004　to　2020.　The　policy　priorities,　organization-functional　network,　and　contributing　factors　to　policy　changes　in　each　of　the　three　phases　are　discussed　in　depth.　Target　setting,　actors＇　functions,　and　institutional　guarantees　are　the　core　elements　of　EC　construction.　This　research　provides　a　quantitative　foundation　for　understanding　policy　reform　and　transition　with　regards　to　Chinese　local　governments＇　EC　actions.　The　experience　of　Fujian　Province　shows　trends　toward　legalization,　multi-actor　linkage,　and　issue　refinement　that　may　serve　as　a　basis　for　other　countries　and　regions　in　order　to　explore　the　promotion　of　sustainable　development　and　environmental　governance　as　pathways　to　EC.