Ecological economy, in contrast to traditional economic forms, showcases a remarkable fusion of ecosystem and economic system, with effective interaction and deep integration. The crux of its development is anchoring economic activities on the integrity and stability of the ecosystem, while sustainable development weaves through every aspect. In recent times, China has embraced green and ecological economies as pathways to sustainable development and hastened ecological civilization progress. To actualize the visions of a beautiful and green modern China, the government has rolled out institutional blueprints for high-quality economic and social advancement. The significance of ecological economy in building a sustainable, green nation is underpinned by the positive imprint of forest resources and their ecosystems on the environment and the transformation of the fossil energy economy. This study focuses on 31 provinces. Through rigorous empirical investigation, a multidimensional assessment framework was formulated to quantify high-quality ecological-economic development. Utilizing the entropy weighting technique, longitudinal trajectories spanning 2011–2021 were systematically analyzed to identify pivotal determinants and evolutionary characteristics. Subsequent panel fixed-effects regression analysis elucidated the catalytic role of digital finance in driving sustainable development paradigms.