Yellow River Basin on the Path to a Greener Future

In mid-September, the Maqu Wetlands in Gansu Province are a picturesque sight, with lush grasslands stretching like a green carpet to the horizon, and rivers and waterways shimmering in the summer sun.

The Yellow River Bridge connects Qinghai Province, where the river rises in the west, with the Maqu Wetlands in the east.

The Yellow River winds through Maqu County for 433 kilometers, and its more than 300 tributaries flow through vast grassland plains and wetlands.

These waterways feed the Yellow River with almost 10 billion cubic meters of water per year, making it a key area for protecting upstream water resources.

Ma Jianyun, chief engineer of the county’s natural resources bureau’s comprehensive forest technology service station, points to before-and-after photos to show the success of restoration efforts in recent years. “Look at how the barren riverbanks have become lush and green. The effects of desertification control are obvious,” he said.

President Xi Jinping stressed the need to step up efforts to protect the river basin and develop it at a high level, presiding over a symposium in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, on September 12.

Xi stressed the need to promote new progress in ecological protection throughout the river basin, green transformation, high-quality development and improving the livelihoods of residents.

Considered to be China’s “Mother River” and the cradle of civilization, the Yellow River flows through nine provinces and autonomous regions, affecting the lives of 420 million people.

Despite challenges such as frequent flooding, steps are already being taken to enhance the protection and development of this vital waterway.

In October 2021, China released a comprehensive plan for the protection and development of the Yellow River Basin, which aims to provide guidance for policy formulation and engineering projects to address the unique challenges facing the basin.

The implementation of the national Yellow River Protection Act last April, along with provincial regulations tailored to local conditions, further enhances river management and protection.

“The ecological protection and high-quality development strategy in the Yellow River Basin, as well as rules and regulations such as the Yellow River Protection Law, have provided the foundation for our work,” said Chen Xiaowei, director of the Lanzhou Yellow River Channel Management Station.

Chen and his team not only patrol the river to monitor ecological challenges, but also disseminate rules and regulations to the public to increase people’s awareness of environmental protection.

“Today, the banks of the Yellow River in Lanzhou are shaded by lush vegetation and filled with the fragrance of flowers, attracting a steady stream of locals and tourists,” Chen said.