Aerial photo of Chaohu Lake. [Photo by Zhou Tiansheng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour of Anhui Province in August 2020. In Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said to the local government officials: "Chaohu Lake is a treasure of the people of Anhui and also the most charming place in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province. Efforts must be made to manage it well while conserving the ecological wetlands within, in an effort to make Chaohu Lake the best symbol of Hefei."

Hefei has since redoubled efforts in promoting ecological environmental conservation, and rolled out a dazzling "green report," allowing its citizens to enjoy more "green benefits." Hefei has a total wetland area of 118,200 hectares with a wetland coverage rate of 10.33%.

"We have five national wetland parks and three provincial wetland parks, with a wetland conservation rate of 75%, ranking first in the province," said a Hefei government official.

1. Effort to promote systematic management of Chaohu Lake

Chaohu is one of the five major freshwater lakes in China. However, with the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the local population has been on a rise at high speed, with the rivers draining into the lake becoming increasingly polluted, leading to the everdeteriorating water quality of Chaohu Lake.

In 1996, the Ninth Five-Year Plan of China (1996–2000) listed Chaohu Lake as one of the "Three Rivers and Three Lakes" under key management at the national level. It is necessary to respect history, culture, and ecology. So, Hefei has shown the greatest-ever determination to resolutely launch the ecology defense battle of Chaohu Lake with the strongest courage. In 2018, the Hefei Municipal People's Government issued the Overall Plan of Comprehensive Management of Chaohu Lake for Green Development, insisting on eliminating pollution with a view to systematically implementing the "five major projects."

Implementing the clear water project to recreate "a clear lake." Efforts are made to vigorously promote integrated management of the water sources so as to build a water pollution prevention and control system for the whole basin.