Beautiful picture of walking丨Bayannur, Inner Mongolia: Protect Wuliang Suhai, the "Pearl Beyond the Great Wall"

In June 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during an inspection tour of Wuliangsuhai, Inner Mongolia, that "we must manage it carefully, care for it carefully, work consistently and for a long time, protect this 'Pearl Beyond the Great Wall', and leave for future generations a beautiful homeland with green mountains, beautiful waters and fresh air."

As the largest lake wetland in the Yellow River Basin, Wuliangsuhai has a water area of ​​approximately 293 square kilometers. It plays the key functions of regulating the water volume of the Yellow River, purifying the water quality entering the Yellow River, and diverting and delaying floods. It is also an important transit station for migrating birds in the northern hemisphere, and an important barrier to protect the ecological security of northern China.

At the end of the last century, agricultural non-point source pollution and industrial wastewater entered Wuliangsuhai into the lake, causing the water quality to deteriorate to worse than Class V. The lake surface shrank, the number of birds dropped sharply, and the pearl was covered in dust. In recent years, Bayannaoer has carried out an integrated system of management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grass and sand. It has taken a multi-pronged approach of source pollution control, ecological water replenishment, desert edge locking, and wetland restoration to restore vitality to Wuliangsuhai.

Today, the overall water quality of Wuliangsuhai is stable at Category V, with some areas better than Category V. The number of recorded bird species has increased to more than 260, and ecological functions have been continuously restored. Green tourism and organic farming have also brought more income to local people. Implementing the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" is allowing this pearl beyond the Great Wall to shine brightly again.