The Heihe River, nestled deep in the Qinling Mountains, is the "Mother River" for Xi'an's 13 million residents. For 18 years, 31 staff members from Xi'an Heihe Water Source Protection and Management Station have made the green mountains their neighbors and the clear waters their companions, building a safety barrier for drinking water in the isolated mountains.

The picture shows the staff conducting water quality sampling and monitoring at the reservoir.

Covering an area of 1,481 square kilometers, the Heihe Water Source Protection Area poses great supervision challenges. Regardless of extreme heat or bitter cold, the guardians conduct inspections four times a week without fail, logging an average of over 20,000 kilometers of patrols per person annually. When encountering falling rocks or landslides, they detour along rugged mountain roads; where vehicles cannot reach, they carry monitoring equipment on their shoulders and backs to climb on foot. Pang Kaihong, captain of the waste removal team, travels nearly 70,000 kilometers through dangerous mountains and rivers each year to haul over 900 tons of waste. Qi Jiangxue, head of Chenhe Sub-station, leads his team to patrol across the 1,200-meter-high Qinling Ridge. In harsh winters, they often stumble and bruise themselves, and can only eat steamed buns with pickles during meal times. Zhang Xiping, head of Houzhenzi Sub-station, has been stationed in this "isolated island" for years, with a flashlight and a wooden stick as his essential safety gear.

These guardians not only persist in silence but also innovate protection models. The station has developed a team culture of "Be a Heihe person, dare to take responsibility; Forge the Heihe spirit, dedicate selflessly" and established the "Red Alliance" mechanism to link enterprises and public institutions within the protection area in building an ecological protection network. They have provided support to the Hanjiang-to-Weihe Water Diversion Project (a key south-to-north water transfer project) to solve environmental governance issues, which was listed by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment as a typical case of supporting enterprises under the "six stabilities" and "six guarantees" initiative in Shaanxi Province. During the COVID-19 prevention and control period, they volunteered in local villages for 36 consecutive days and nights. In recognition, local residents presented them with a banner inscribed with "Serve villagers in epidemic prevention, set an example in fulfilling missions". Additionally, they distribute environmental protection supplies such as shopping bags and garbage bags printed with water-saving and water-protection slogans to farmers and tourists to promote water conservation awareness.

Technological empowerment has made protection more precise. The Heihe Water Source has long realized 24/7 water quality monitoring. The video and voice broadcast system along the Chenhe section can promptly dissuade behaviors that may cause pollution. Unmanned monitoring ships and emergency early-warning platforms—these "smart brains"—operate continuously. By maximizing video surveillance coverage and conducting regular emergency drills, potential risks of man-made pollution have been minimized.

Eighteen years of perseverance have yielded remarkable results: the water quality of the Heihe Water Source has consistently exceeded Class Ⅱ standards, with a 100% compliance rate. These "lonely guardians" have dedicated their youth and persistence to ensuring every sip of drinking water for Xi'an residents is safe. This clear water in the depths of the Qinling Mountains has thus become a vital source sustaining the city's development.

（Note: The content of this document is from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment）

Guarding Xi'an's 'Mother River': 18 Years of Persistence and Dedication by Heihe Guardians

Warmly celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China

In Bayan Wusu Gacha, Angsu Town, Etuokeqian Banner, Inner Mongolia, on this land at the northern edge of the Mu Us Sandy Land, 78-year-old Wulijidelige has spent fifty years writing a legend of "turning barren sand into an oasis" and has also become one of the 2024 National Top 10 Eco-Environmental Volunteers.

As a native herdsman, Wulijidelige was influenced by his parents' tree-planting efforts since childhood, and a "seed of green" had long been planted in his heart. In 1972, shortly after getting married, he saw that 7,000 mu of his 8,500-mu pasture was swallowed by yellow sand, and the 1,500 mu of grazable grassland continued to degrade—this strengthened his determination to control desertification. Since then, he has led his family to embark on the journey of desertification control: when there were no vehicles to transport saplings, they relied on livestock to carry them or carried them by hand; when they had no money to hire people, they helped each other with neighbors. When hungry, they ate dry rations; when tired, they lay on sand ridges. Even though the saplings were buried by yellow sand again and again, he never stopped. After his parents grew old, he took his son to carry on the mission. With a total investment of over one million yuan, he finally covered 6,500 mu of barren sand with green, planting vegetation such as sand willows, Caragana korshinskii, and poplars.

Wulijidelige deeply understands that "the green from one person is not as good as the green from all people". After the government introduced the ecological compensation policy in 2004, he took the initiative to take the lead. With the support of the town government, he gathered farmers and herdsmen who were willing to control desertification but lacked technology, shared his own experience, and also invited experts to carry out training. Driven by him, a wave of greening emerged in Gacha, and finally the vegetation coverage rate reached 97%, making the green mountains and clear waters reappear. During the advancement of rural revitalization, he strived to take the lead in developing the collective economy and refining policies that benefit the people; when the volunteer service team of Gacha's New Era Civilization Practice Station was established, he joined it immediately and also actively participated in the 100,000-mu Caragana korshinskii planting campaign in Angsu Town. "This year may be the last year I plant trees, but my son and grandson will continue to do so." In spring, Wulijidelige's figure—holding a spade and carefully banking soil—against the lush grassland, has become the most touching perseverance on this land.

(Note: The content of this article is from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment)

Wulijidelige: Fifty Years of Greening the Barren Sand, Forging the Hope of the Oasis

We invite you to step into Xinyuan Village in Jinshan District, leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind, and immerse yourself in the charm of "Shanghai-style Jiangnan".

Xinyuan Village spans two provinces and three counties, adjacent to Songjiang in the east, Qingpu in the north, and Zhejiang Province in the west, where Wu and Yue cultures blend harmoniously. The 70-meter-wide Fantang River meanders like a green ribbon, connecting 5 natural villages. Fields, waterways, and residences interweave to form the "checkerboard polder field" – a crystallization of the wisdom of ancient Jiangnan ancestors in taming low-lying lands, and a rare "polder field" specimen in Shanghai's suburbs. Wandering through the village, you can see winding rivers amid swaying rice fields, and feel the unique charm of Shanghai-style Jiangnan at every step.

The "Horse Lantern Dance" of Xinyuan Village has a history of over 100 years. Also known as "Flower Basket Horse Lantern Dance" due to its props of horse lanterns and flower baskets, it is a unique cultural symbol of the village. In 2017, the village established a women's Horse Lantern Dance team, which created and performed the program Celebrating Harvest. This program not only carries forward the traditional farming culture but also conveys the joy of the golden autumn harvest. During the event, you can watch the vivid performance up close, and even join in the interaction to learn simple moves, experiencing the vitality of folk customs firsthand.

Amid Shanghai's rapid urban development, Xinyuan Village has preserved the spatial pattern of traditional polder settlements, like a "peach blossom land" (a paradise) in the countryside. There is no hustle of the city here, only the tranquility of birdsong and frog croaks, and the picturesque scenery of white walls, black tiles, and rice fields. Walk along the paths by the low-lying Jing River to admire the crisscross water network, stand on the field ridges to overlook the vast wilderness, step into villagers' courtyards to listen to stories of the village, and visit the village history museum to learn about its development. Immerse yourself in the inheritance and innovation of Shanghai-style culture.

(Note: The content of this article is from Shanghai Youth Travel Service.)

Xinyuan Village Event: A Date with Jiangnan Style in Shanghai

The "Ten-Thousand-Village Demonstration and Hundred-Thousand-Village Renovation" Project (referred to as the "Thousand-Village Project") is a major decision personally planned, deployed, and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his work in Zhejiang. It fully demonstrates General Secretary Xi Jinping's far-sighted vision and strategic acumen in breaking new ground with extraordinary courage, and comprehensively embodies the cohesion and creativity formed by the interaction between the great practice of the people, the great thoughts of the people's leader, and the great feelings of the people. Summarizing, refining, and promoting the successful experience of the "Thousand-Village Project" is of special and important significance for advancing the in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The "Thousand-Village Project" Demonstrates the Significant Theoretical and Practical Value of the New Development Philosophy

Comrade Xi Jinping deeply grasped the laws governing work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. Based on in-depth and systematic research, and a precise understanding of Zhejiang's provincial conditions, rural conditions, and public opinions, he made the scientific decision to launch and implement the "Thousand-Village Project"—a full expression of Comrade Xi Jinping's profound feelings for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, and a vivid practice of the people-centered development philosophy on the "land of Zhijiang" (a poetic name for Zhejiang).

From the very beginning of its implementation, the "Thousand-Village Project" clearly defined development concepts such as urban-rural integration, regional coordination, ecological priority, and joint construction and shared benefits in its top-level design. It focused on handling major relationships such as speed and quality, development and environmental protection, and development and security, providing a rich practical foundation for the formation and development of the new development philosophy.

To learn and apply the experience of the "Thousand-Village Project well, we must always take meeting the ever-growing needs of farmers for a better life as the starting point and goal, grasp, measure, and promote development through the internal unity of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing. We should pursue a path of development featuring productive growth, prosperous lives, and sound ecosystems, and continuously convert development achievements into improved quality of life, enhancing farmers' sense of gain, happiness, and security.

The "Thousand-Village Project" Creates a Practical Model for Integrated Urban-Rural Development

With a strategic mindset of coordinating urban and rural development to revitalize agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, Comrade Xi Jinping positioned the "Thousand-Village Project" as a "leading project" for urban-rural integration. He personally established the basic principle of "government providing funds and materials, farmers contributing labor, and the whole society participating in investment and construction"—a historic shift from the previous urban-rural "dual structure" practice, where the government funded urban construction while rural construction relied on self-financing by farmers and collectives.

This initiative effectively promoted the extension of infrastructure to rural areas, the coverage of public services in rural areas, and the spread of modern civilization to rural areas. As a result, the "Thousand-Village Project" became an effective carrier and tool for Zhejiang to narrow the urban-rural gap and advance integrated urban-rural development, establishing a new mechanism for urban-rural integration and synergy.

The coming period is a window of opportunity to break the urban-rural dual structure and improve the institutional mechanism for integrated urban-rural development. To learn and apply the experience of the "Thousand-Village Project" well, we must adhere to the priority development of agriculture and rural areas, strengthen the role of industry in supporting agriculture and cities in driving rural development, promote the two-way free flow of production factors and the rational allocation of public resources between urban and rural areas, and accelerate the formation of a new type of industrial-agricultural and urban-rural relationship characterized by mutual promotion between industry and agriculture, mutual complementarity between urban and rural areas, coordinated development, and common prosperity.

The "Thousand-Village Project" Depicts a Vivid Picture of Beautiful Villages

In 2005, when Comrade Xi Jinping conducted research in Yucun Village, Anji County—a renovated village under the "Thousand-Village Project"—he fully affirmed the village cadres and residents for shutting down small stone mines and small cement factories that polluted the environment. Inspired by this, he put forward the new green development concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," guiding the "Thousand-Village Project" to expand toward building beautiful villages and a beautiful China.

Over the past 20 years, the "Thousand-Village Project" has consistently focused on integrating the improvement of farmers' production, living, and ecological environments, and addressing the top-priority issues of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers together with the most challenging ecological and environmental protection issues. This has made the project not only a people-benefiting initiative to strengthen agriculture, beautify villages, and enrich farmers, but also an ecological conservation project for advancing ecological civilization. It has achieved a positive cycle of economic development and ecological protection, providing a "Chinese solution" for countries around the world to explore paths for rural modernization.

To learn and apply the experience of the "Thousand-Village Project" well, we must adhere to ecological priority and green development, and persistently explore channels to convert "lucid waters and lush mountains" into "invaluable assets," turning ecological advantages into benefits for people's well-being.

The "Thousand-Village Project" Points Out the Path to Comprehensive Rural Revitalization

Comrade Xi Jinping has continuously cared about and guided the "Thousand-Village Project." During his work in Zhejiang, he emphasized that the project should be treated as a "top leader project" to ensure effective guarantees for its implementation in terms of human, material, and financial resources, as well as efforts, enabling the project to advance sustainably with high quality and efficiency.

A coordination leading group for the "Thousand-Village Project" was established, led by the Rural Work Office of the Provincial Party Committee and with the participation of various Party and government departments. This turned the project into a large-scale systematic initiative involving joint efforts from multiple departments and parties, expanding its scope of construction. Creatively, he proposed taking counties as the implementation units and holding an annual provincial on-site meeting for the "Thousand-Village Project" in a county with outstanding performance to promote advanced experience, creating a positive atmosphere where all regions strive to excel and compete for progress.

The thinking, strategies, policy systems, and working mechanisms formed by the "Thousand-Village Project" fully demonstrate the strong political advantages and institutional advantages of the Party's leadership, and have explored successful paths and institutional methods for all regions to advance comprehensive rural revitalization.

To learn and apply the experience of the "Thousand-Village Project" well, we must deeply understand the scientific thinking methods and working methods demonstrated by Comrade Xi Jinping in creatively planning, deciding, scientifically implementing, and sustainably promoting the project. We should use this to guide all work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers with rural revitalization as the focus in the new era and new journey.

(Note: The content of this article is from China Economic Net - Economic Daily and Baidu)

Ten-Thousand-Village Demonstration and Hundred-Thousand-Village Renovation

On April 10th, a donation ceremony carrying a green mission kicked off at the Rural Revitalization Service Center of Baoqian Village, Tianya District, Sanya City, Hainan Province. The Beijing International Ecological Economy Association (IEEPA) hosted this event for the donation of verified greenhouse gas emission reductions. Leaders and experts from the national, provincial and municipal levels gathered here to jointly map out the blueprint for the development of zero-waste and zero-carbon ecological agriculture in Sanya, injecting rural green momentum into the construction of a Beautiful China.

This event has created multiple "firsts" and can be regarded as a groundbreaking initiative in the field of ecological agriculture. Burnin Energy (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. took the lead in breaking conventions by donating 218 tons of verified emission reductions to the Beijing International Ecological Economy Association. This marks the first time that an enterprise has donated verified greenhouse gas emission reductions to a social organization, demonstrating its environmental responsibility through concrete actions. Subsequently, the association transferred these 218 tons of emission reductions to the Zero-Waste and Zero-Carbon Ecological Agricultural Park in Tianya District, Sanya City, ensuring that green efforts are precisely implemented in rural areas.

Professional certification provides strong support for this "green miracle". China Quality Certification Center (CQM) conducted a rigorous inspection and evaluation of the greenhouse gas emissions during the construction phase of the park. It was finally confirmed that the emissions had been fully offset, and a carbon neutrality evaluation certificate for the construction phase was issued. Academician Hao Jiming of the Chinese Academy of Engineering personally presented the donation certificate, carbon neutrality certificate and evaluation report to the Tianya District People's Government. This signifies the birth of China's first "ecological agricultural park achieving carbon neutrality during the construction phase" in Sanya, setting a green benchmark for the industry

"This is an important milestone in the development of the project!" said Hu Shouyao, Deputy District Mayor of Tianya District. His comment reflects the great significance of this achievement. During the event, representatives from various departments including the China Geological Survey Bureau's Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, the Hainan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, as well as local farmer representatives, visited the construction site of the park to witness this green achievement.

Looking back on the journey, since its launch in 2023, the project has been committed to three core goals: "ecological circulation, climate friendliness, and benefit-sharing for common prosperity". With a total investment exceeding 10 million yuan, and supported by departments such as the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as promoted by governments at all levels in Sanya, the project has successfully completed its first-phase tasks. What is even more proud is that the achievements of the project attracted widespread attention from the international community when they were showcased at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Academician Hao Jiming also highly praised the association for its down-to-earth spirit of tackling tough challenges in the field of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and "writing research papers on the land". This has injected stronger confidence into Sanya's new journey towards zero-waste and zero-carbon ecological agriculture.

(Note: The content of this document is from the International Ecological Economy Association (IEEPA))

A New Journey Towards Zero Waste and Zero Carbon: The Green Miracle of Sanya's Ecological Agriculture

In May 2024, while participating in the Wuxi Lihu Ecological Design Festival on Bogong Island, Liu Hongzhi looked at the clear Taihu Lake and her thoughts drifted back to the terrifying cyanobacteria crisis in 2007.

Liu Hongzhi has long been engaged in work related to water (governance and management).（ieepaphoto）

 At that time, she was serving as the vice mayor of Wuxi on a temporary assignment. On May 29, 2007, cyanobacteria in Taihu Lake exploded wildly, severely polluting the tap water in Wuxi. Millions of citizens were plunged into a water shortage, and drinking water in supermarkets was snapped up in an instant.

In the critical moment, Liu Hongzhi was extremely anxious and contacted experts from all sides day and night. The Taihu Basin Authority of the Ministry of Water Resources quickly increased the amount of water diverted from the Yangtze River, stabilizing the water quality of the Xidong Waterworks, which supplied 20% of the residents in Wuxi. She urgently invited Zhang Xiaojian, the director of the Institute of Water Quality Science and Engineering at Tsinghua University. Zhang Xiaojian proposed using potassium permanganate oxidant and powdered activated carbon to treat the water quality. At the same time, the local meteorological department launched 39 rockets to carry out artificial rainfall. After 18 hours of all-out efforts, the normal water supply in Wuxi was finally restored on June 1.

As early as when Liu Hongzhi first arrived in Wuxi in 2006, she noticed that the concept of emphasizing the economy while neglecting environmental protection was deeply rooted. Entrepreneurs and some civil servants strongly resisted environmental protection work. After the water crisis, she embarked on a long - term governance path. For polluting enterprises, she implemented the "Environmental Protection Public Confession and Commitment System" and shut down, merged, transferred, or relocated 12,000 enterprises. To change the attitude of civil servants, she pioneered the "River Chief System", making "top leaders" at all levels responsible for river governance. Within just 100 days, the water quality of hundreds of rivers connected to Taihu Lake improved by one - third. In addition, she promoted the establishment of an environmental resources tribunal and an upstream - downstream ecological compensation mechanism.

The concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is deeply rooted in Liu Hongzhi's heart.（ieepaphoto）

Once, in the governance of Taihu Lake, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai each went their own way and conflicts frequently occurred. However, the water crisis in 2007 made the two provinces and one municipality realize that ecological governance required breaking administrative barriers and collaborating. Now, a governance pattern of "sharing weal and woe" has been formed. Although Liu Hongzhi has left Wuxi for many years, she has always paid attention to the governance of Taihu Lake. Now, Taihu Lake has achieved "safe summers" for 16 consecutive years. Wuxi has also transformed from a traditional industrial model to high - quality development. Citizens pay more and more attention to a healthy lifestyle. The beautiful blueprint she envisioned back then has now become a reality.

the scenery of Taihu Lake (photo by Xinhua News Agency)

(Note: The content of this document is sourced from Shanghai Observer and Xinhua News Agency)

Liu Hongzhi: The Road to Water Governance from the Taihu Lake Crisis to the Restoration of Clear Waters

Yuan Longping: The Scientific Pillar Amidst Golden Rice Waves

Yuan Longping was known as the "Father of Hybrid Rice" and a recipient of the "Medal of the Republic". The International Astronomical Union even named an asteroid "Yuanlongping" in his honor. His name is closely linked to the golden waves of rice, and his deeds are included in the PEP High School Chinese textbook for Grade 10 (Compulsory Volume 1), allowing younger generations to understand the profound meaning of "writing research papers on the land of the motherland".

At the age of 19, Yuan Longping faced a crucial choice when filling out his college application. His father hoped he would enroll in Nanjing University to pursue a path of "achieving success through academic excellence", but the seeds of agronomy sown during a primary school visit to a horticultural farm, combined with his firsthand experience of the hardships of food shortages, led him to firmly refuse. Instead, he enrolled in the Department of Agronomy at Southwest Agricultural College (now part of Southwest University), determined to "study agriculture for the benefit of the people". After graduating in 1953, he was assigned to teach at Anjiang Agricultural School in Hunan Province. In addition to teaching, he began his research on a half-mu experimental field allocated by the school, eventually focusing on rice studies—because he deeply understood that as rice is the staple food for people in southern China, increasing rice yield per mu is the key to solving the food problem.

Yuan Longping, who worked as a teacher at Anjiang Agricultural School in Hunan Province, discovered a remarkable rice plant that stood out prominently among the others.

In July 1961, Yuan Longping discovered a remarkable rice plant among conventional rice varieties: it had a plump structure, large ears, and more than 160 grains per ear. He estimated that its yield per mu would far exceed the average level at that time. He carefully marked and preserved the seeds, but when he sowed them in the spring of 1962, the seedlings grew unevenly and matured at different times. Drawing on his knowledge of genetics, he recalled Mendel's Law of Segregation and concluded that this was the first generation of a natural hybrid rice plant. This insight defined his direction of "developing artificial hybrid rice", and the experimental field at Anjiang Agricultural School became the starting point of his research.

Yuan Longping, along with researchers from the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, conducted research on hybrid rice in the fields.

The international academic community questioned him, citing the claim in Principles of Genetics by American geneticists Sinnott and Dunn that "self-pollinating crops have no heterosis". However, Yuan Longping firmly believed that "practice is the sole criterion for testing truth". Starting from 1964, he embarked on a journey to find "male sterile rice plants". In 1970, his team discovered a wild male sterile rice plant named "Wild Abortive" (Yebai) at Nanhong Farm in Hainan, breaking through a major research bottleneck. In 1973, he successfully developed the three-line system of indica hybrid rice; in 1974, he bred "Nanyou No. 2", which achieved a yield of 628 kg per mu in experimental planting—more than twice that of conventional rice varieties at that time.

In 1976, hybrid rice was widely promoted across China, increasing yields by over 20% compared to conventional rice. Later, Yuan Longping and his team developed the two-line system of hybrid rice, and the yield of super hybrid rice repeatedly set world records. Today, hybrid rice is promoted in more than 70 countries worldwide; in Madagascar, it is even featured on the country's largest-denomination banknote. Even as an academician, Yuan Longping insisted on "going to the fields every day". His "dream of enjoying the cool under rice plants" embodies his "dedication to the country with a broad mind", setting a scientific example for young people to take root in the land and serve the people.

Note: The content of this document is from the Beijing Association for Science and Technology.

In Xichou County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, 75.4% of the area is covered by exposed or semi-exposed karst landforms, and it was once one of the regions most severely affected by rocky desertification in China.

Liu Dengrong at the site where the first blast was fired to break rocks and create farmland in Yaoshi Valley, Muze Village, Xichou County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province (photographed on November 20, 2020).

(Photo by Luo Chunming, Xinhua News Agency)

In 1990, the first blast of "reclaiming land from rocky crevices" was detonated in Yaoshi Valley, Muze Village. All villagers, men and women, young and old, worked arduously for 105 days, and opened up 365 mu of "Three-Guarantee" terraced fields (guaranteeing stable yield, soil conservation and water retention) in the pile of rocks, which greatly increased the yields of corn and flue-cured tobacco, and helped the village get rid of the label of "food-deficient village" (a village that relies on government food assistance). In the same year, Cheng Dunru, a 40-year-old man from Chengjiapo Village, Banggu Township, and his wife, took hoes and went into the rocky desertified barren mountains. Over more than 10 years, they wore down 20 hoes and planted Chinese medicinal materials and fruit trees all over the barren mountains.

Yaoshi Valley, Muze Village, Xichou County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province – the place where the first blast of "reclaiming land from rocky crevices" was fired. The once scattered piles of rocks have now become stretches of "Three-Guarantee" terraced fields (photographed on November 20, 2020).

The Sanguang Area in Xingjie Town once made villagers suffer a lot due to 30 square kilometers of rocky desertification. The local Party committee and government led the masses to move rocks and create farmland, transferred more than 5,000 mu of land, and planted 2,700 mu of kiwifruits; Jianglong Village also changed from a place described as "bare mountains with no water in ponds, thin fields yielding only half a year's grain" to a village with green mountain tops and more than 620 mu of fruit trees planted at the foot of the mountains.

Contiguous kiwifruit planting base in Duoyiping Village Group, Sanguang Area, Xingjie Town, Xichou County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province (photographed on November 19, 2020).

During the governance process, the "Xichou Spirit" gradually took shape, which holds that "Moving away is not as good as moving rocks; suffering in idleness is not as good as working hard; waiting is not a solution; only working can bring hope". By 2020, Xichou County had cumulatively controlled 140 square kilometers of rocky desertification, completed 500,000 mu of afforestation and 870,000 mu of closed-off afforestation. Its forest coverage rate has increased from 25% to 50.68%, writing a vivid answer sheet for rocky desertification control.

Jianglong Village, Xingjie Town, Xichou County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province – once a place described as "bare mountains with no water in ponds, thin fields yielding only half a year's grain" – now not only has green mountain tops, but also has more than 620 mu of fruit trees developed at the foot of the mountains (photographed on November 20, 2020).

(Note: The content of this document is sourced from Xinhua News Agency and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China.)

Rocky Desertification Control in Xichou County

The guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China held a massive military parade in central Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II, pledging the country's commitment to peaceful development in a world still fraught with turbulence and uncertainties.

Towering structures shaped like the Great Wall stood in Tian'anmen Square, symbolizing the Chinese nation's courage and solidarity in resisting foreign aggression.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, oversaw the parade and reviewed the troops.

Standing beside Xi on Tian'anmen Rostrum were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with more than 20 other foreign leaders.

Representatives of people who had supported China's WWII fight, or their family members -- from countries such as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Canada -- were invited to the event.

This was the second time since 2015 that China has held a military parade to commemorate the hard-won victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Helicopters flew over Tian'anmen Square carrying banners that read "Justice Prevails," "Peace Prevails," and "The People Prevail." The troops marched in tight, powerful formations, their faces lit with confidence and pride. Columns of new tanks, artillery and other military equipment rumbled through the square.

Xi delivered a speech before the parade. Highlighting the significance of the victory 80 years ago, Xi said it marks China's first complete victory against foreign aggression in modern times.

Xi noted that the Chinese people made a major contribution to the salvation of human civilization and the defense of world peace with immense sacrifice in the war. He called on nations to "eliminate the root cause of war and prevent historical tragedies from recurring."

Japan officially surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, by signing the Instrument of Surrender. China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day.

An 80-banner formation honoring heroic military units from the war marched past Tian'anmen Square, highlighting China's position as the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931.

The country tied down and struck over half of Japan's overseas forces, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties -- accounting for around one-third of all WWII casualties worldwide.

More than 10,000 military personnel, along with over 100 aircraft and hundreds of ground armaments, were arranged into formations according to a wartime command system. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) new system of services and arms -- the result of military reforms under Xi's leadership -- was put on display for the first time.

The advanced armaments put on display included unmanned intelligence and counter-unmanned equipment, hypersonic missiles, directed-energy weapons, electronic jamming systems, and strategic weaponry capable of global strikes.

In his speech, Xi demanded that the PLA provide strategic support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

He reiterated China's commitment to peaceful development. "Humanity is again faced with a choice of peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win outcomes or zero-sum games," he said.

Chinese soldiers who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations marched past Tian'anmen Square, marking their first appearance in a V-Day parade. "We have the capability to defend the peace forged with the blood of our forefathers," said Shao Xiaoguang, a member of the reviewed troops who previously served on a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This was also the first military parade since Xi led China to embark on "a new journey to pursue Chinese modernization on all fronts." The country has laid out a roadmap to basically achieve modernization by 2035.

"Eighty years ago, we were revived. Eighty years later, we are thriving with even greater vitality," said Lyu Shouye, a spectator at the event and a graduate student studying AI.

"Now our country has reached a stage where we need to undertake greater responsibilities," he said. ■

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Chinese UN peacekeepers march through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The flag-guarding air echelon takes part in a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Na Yuqi)

Armament formations attend a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

A flag-guarding echelon flies over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

The formation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy marches through Tian'anmen Square during a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Honor guards stand in formation during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guards of Honor formation attends a parade during a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)

Helicopters form a huge numerical shape of 80 while flying over Tian'anmen Square during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Soldiers escort the Chinese national flag for a flag-raising ceremony during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Soldiers fire gun salute during a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)

Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army make preparations in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Parade guards step in place before a grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Troops make preparations before a military parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. A grand gathering to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which includes a military parade, will be held on Sept. 3 at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

The nuclear missile formation attends a parade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2025. China on Wednesday held a grand gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

(V-Day) China holds massive parade to mark 80th anniversary of WWII victory

Xia Weichun: Guardian Deep in the Mountains

At Haikou Forest Farm in Kunming City, Yunnan Province, forest ranger Xia Weichun has silently guarded this stretch of mountains for over 30 years, interpreting the responsibility and commitment of forestry workers through his perseverance.

In 1990, shortly after graduation, Xia Weichun was assigned to the Shanchong Forest Area of Haikou Forest Farm. Upon taking office, he stood firm on the frontline of forest fire prevention, undertaking tasks of forest fire monitoring and forecasting, and building the first line of defense for the safety of the mountains. Since 2003, he has been transferred to the Zhongbao Forest Area. This area features a large management scope, abundant forest resources, and complex geographical location. His work has also expanded to mountain patrols for forest protection, publicizing laws and regulations on forest conservation, and eliminating fire hazards. Whether conducting daily patrols or keeping a close watch on forest dynamics from the observation tower, he has always been diligent and never slackened.

"Many trees in the forest area were planted by the older generation of forest rangers, including my father. I must guard this forest well to live up to the hard work of the elder generation," said Xia Weichun. As the descendant of a forestry worker, his words are full of the original aspiration of inheritance.

Thanks to the unremitting efforts of generations of forest farm workers like Xia Weichun, Haikou Forest Farm has achieved a magnificent ecological transformation. From a time when the forest coverage rate was almost zero, it has risen to 71.24% by 2020, with the forest green coverage rate reaching as high as 81.89%. Every touch of green in these mountains embodies the sweat of guardians like Xia Weichun.

（注：内容来自新华社和生态环境部）

Xia Weichun: The Guardian Deep in the Mountains

Zhang Zhishan has long been deeply engaged in the research of desert ecology and vegetation restoration, focusing on the ecological governance of deserts such as the Kubuqi Desert and the Tengger Desert. He explores the interaction mechanism between vegetation and the environment in arid and semi-arid areas, with particular attention to the drought and salt-alkali tolerance characteristics of psammophytes and the reconstruction of desert ecosystems under artificial intervention.

1.Breeding of Psammophytes: Through gene screening and domestication, he has cultivated high-quality varieties such as sea-buckthorn and artemisia desertorum with drought tolerance improved by more than 30%. This solves the problem of low survival rate (less than 40%) of traditional psammophytes, increasing the local vegetation coverage rate in the Kubuqi Desert from 10% to more than 50%.

2.Low-Cost Governance Technology: He developed a composite technology of "straw checkerboard sand fixation + shrub planting". Compared with traditional methods, this technology increases sand fixation efficiency by 50% and reduces costs by 40%. It has been promoted in desert areas such as Inner Mongolia and Gansu, covering an area of over 1,000 square kilometers.

3.Eco-Economic Synergy Model: He proposed an integrated path of "sand area vegetation restoration + characteristic industries". For example, relying on psammophytes to develop Chinese medicinal material planting and biomass energy, which has driven more than 50,000 herdsmen around the Kubuqi Desert to increase their income, verifying the practical feasibility of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".

1.Desert governance requires "technology + local wisdom": It is necessary to rely on scientific and technological means such as genetic technology and remote sensing monitoring, while also respecting the sand-fixation experience of local herdsmen (e.g., the improvement of traditional straw checkerboard technology) to avoid technology being divorced from reality.

2.Ecological restoration is a long-term process: It is necessary to avoid the "short-term greening" mindset. Instead, a stable sand area ecosystem (such as the combination of arbors, shrubs and grasses) should be built to realize the transformation of deserts from "governable" to "sustainable development".

His research achievements provide a "replicable and promotable" technical paradigm for desert governance in northern China. At the same time, they offer a "Chinese solution" for ecological restoration in arid regions around the world, and are of great reference value especially in the "coordinated promotion of ecological protection and people's livelihood improvement".

Zhang Zhishan: Persistently Delving into Desert Ecology Despite Hardships

Notice of the 2025 Exchange Conference on New Pollutant Control and Environmental Health Risk Prevention

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Institute visited our association. As an important supporting unit of our association, the Sanya Tianya District Zero-Carbon Zero-Waste Eco-Agriculture Demonstration Project supported by us is a heartfelt contribution from the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Institute. The soil and groundwater pollution investigation of a plot in Taizhou, Zhejiang, compiled by the Shanghai Municipal Engineering Institute and supported by our association, has been recognized by national and provincial/city levels. At the beginning of the New Spring, both parties have reached a new consensus on the next step of cooperation.

Shanghai Municipal Engineering Institute visited our association.

Recently, a responsible person from our association visited the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, and was warmly received by Xi Beidou, the president and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Both sides had an in-depth exchange on the technological support and collaborative development of social organizations in the construction of ecological civilization.

 association  be responsible for the visit of the person in charge to the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.

On January 22, 2025, Amina bint Abdullah Al Dhaheri, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, sent a personal letter to Mr. Xie Zhenhua, expressing her gratitude for the robust cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the People's Republic of China over the years under Mr. Xie’s guidance. She also extended her warmest congratulations to Mr. Xie Zhenhua on receiving the "First-Class Medal of Zayed II." She stated that Mr. Xie Zhenhua's remarkable achievements in the field of sustainable development, as well as his significant contributions to the core environmental discussions during COP28, were pivotal to their major advancements in addressing climate change challenges. This recognition appropriately honors Mr. Xie Zhenhua's transformative efforts and profound influence in advancing global sustainable development. She further noted that Mr. Xie Zhenhua’s contributions would inspire future generations to follow in his footsteps, striving for excellence and fulfilling their duties.

The Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE wrote to Xie Zhenhua, highly praising his outstanding contributions in the field of sustainable development.

On January 23, 2025, I will visit the Wuxi Taihu Culture and Art Exchange Center to have a cordial exchange with Mr. Dai Jiaping, a former senior leader of Wuxi, focusing on in-depth discussions regarding Wuxi's integrated work on pollution reduction and carbon emission control. Accompanying me will be Mr. Xia Weiping, Chairman of Wuxi Harbor Network Technology Co., Ltd., a member unit of our association.

 association  visit the Wuxi Taihu Art and Culture Exchange Center.

From January 20 to 21, 2025, under the leadership of Yi Yumin, Director of the Environmental Assessment Center of Yunnan Province, our team went to Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Wenshan Prefecture) for an in-depth symposium exchange with the leaders of the Wenshan Prefecture Ecology and Environment Bureau. This exchange aimed to jointly explore the future development direction and strategies for the ecological environment of Wenshan Prefecture, contributing to its green development.

Yunnan Provincial Environmental Assessment Center, together with our association, visited Wenshan Prefecture to jointly discuss a new chapter in ecological and environmental development.

On January 12, 2025, a delegation led by the Chairman of Wuxi Port Technology Co., Ltd., a member unit of our association, visited the association. They engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on the construction plans for zero-carbon parks, communities, and countryside, as well as the promotion and application of innovative technologies in energy conservation and carbon reduction, the digital economy, and low-carbon initiatives within the context of the dual-carbon goal.

The Chairman of Wuxi Port Technology provided a detailed introduction to the company's latest research and development achievements and application cases in zero-carbon technology, including innovative practices in park energy management, carbon emission monitoring, and the construction of digital platforms. The leaders of the association highly praised the efforts and contributions of Wuxi Port Technology in the cause of dual-carbon.

Both parties also conducted in-depth discussions on how to promote and apply innovative technologies in energy conservation and carbon reduction, the digital economy, and low-carbon leading initiatives in the dual-carbon endeavor.