A bird's-eye view of Lanhu Lake Tourist Resort in Lanxi, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: jhfabu]
A decade of ecological restoration has transformed Lanxi — a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province — into a model of green development, where lush landscapes and clear waters now fuel economic growth while benefiting local communities.
At Lanhu Lake Tourist Resort, visitors are greeted with a shimmering lake framed by verdant forests — an extraordinary contrast to its past with environmental pollution.
In 2012 when the resort was just established, rampant livestock farms polluted waterways, leaving foul smells in their wake. To reverse this degradation, authorities shut down 235 farms, revamped aquaculture practices, and restored the reservoir area through dredging projects.
Now boasting year-round premium water quality, Lanhu Lake attracts more and more birds to overwinter and breed there. At present, 177 bird species have been monitored at the lake and nearby areas.
Crowds of visitors flock to the tourism resort and students come to observe the birds, boosting nearby businesses like restaurants and homestays.
Meanwhile, Bailu Mountain Natural Camp in Huangdian town is also seeing a tourist boom. The once-neglected mountain forest now thrives as a viral hotspot offering zip-lining, riverside barbecues, and other activities to visitors.
The camp receives on average 20 tour buses each day, with a steady visit of around 2,000. The increasing number of tourists has also brought benefits to nearby villagers, with over 40 villagers securing jobs at the camp.
From revitalized ecosystems to bustling tourism, these cases highlight Lanxi's efforts to convert natural assets into sustainable wealth.
