After a first snowfall in winter, more than 600 hectares of reed in Wuhai 
Longyou Bay National Wetland Park are covered with snow frost, which looks like 
a fairyland... Formed by water seepage from the Yellow River, the wetland is 
located in the northwest corner of the city's Haibowan District, with Table 
Mountain in the east and Yellow River in the west. 

In order to enhance the ecological construction and restoration of Wuhai 
section of the Yellow River Basin, Wuhai has scientifically planned with 
systematic protection and restoration to promote the ecological and functional 
improvement of wetlands. A wetland park integrating wetland protection, tourism 
and popular science education has been initially established. At the end of 
2018, it officially became a national wetland park and a livable paradise for 
birds.

Keeping the mountains green and waters clean is crucial to ecological 
development.

Wuhai's desertified land once accounted for 60 percent of the land area, which 
was a serious area of desertification in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and 
even the whole country. The city's land area that cannot be afforested was 
877,400 mu, accounting for 33.35 percent of its land area.

Faced with the harsh natural ecological environment, Wuhai people have turned 
their desire for a green homeland into a driving force to move forward. 
Generations of Wuhai people have committed themselves to afforestation, leading 
to Wuhai's green transformation.

From the barren land many years ago to the national garden city with a green 
landscape, Wuhai's urban development can also be called a construction history 
of an oasis.

With the completion of the Haibowan Water Conservancy Project on the Yellow 
River, the 118-square-kilometer Wuhai Lake came into being. A grand dam spans 
across the Yellow River, creating a lake in the desert, attracting many 
visitors to enjoy the unique landscape featuring different elements.

Boating on Wuhai Lake, one can enjoy a beautiful and refreshing landscape of 
the blue sky, white clouds reflected on the lake surface, sand, reeds, swimming 
fish and flying birds. Walking all the way along the lake, visitors can relax 
while enjoying enchanting views at garden sketches, pedestrian walkways, 
hydrophilic docks, artificial beaches... 

Relying on the Yellow River and Wuhai Lake, Wuhai has built Haibowan Gander 
river system, Wudabayinsai river system, Hainan Engel river system, airport 
road artificial lake landscape and Fengming Lake Park. The original wasteland 
and gravel land have become beautiful water landscapes in the hands of 
builders. Wuhai has built more than 40 lakes so far, which are connected.

Every year from mid-March to early November, more than 100,000 birds of more 
than 60 species of 6 families inhabit and breed in Wuhai, including rare 
species under strict national protection. Some migratory birds even choose to 
stay in the Wuhai for winter.

In order to bring permanent green benefits to its residents, Wuhai has made 
great efforts to build green and leisure spaces within walking distances. 
Landscape green belts with 20-50 meters in width have been set up on both sides 
of the road, forming a constant green road across the year.

The greenery coverage rate of Wuhai stands at 43 percent, with the per capita 
park greenery space area reaching 19.5 square meters. The area of desertified 
and sandy land has been reduced. Wuhai has successively won the honors of 
national greening model city, national garden city, national health city and 
one of the first water ecological civilization cities in China.

Source: Wuhai City Publicity Department

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   Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=382573

   Caption: A wharf at the Wuhai Lake tourism zone