River course

Shandong has ramped up its efforts on green development in various sectors from grassroots initiatives to provincial-level projects, and established a pilot zone for green, low-carbon and high-quality development, the first of its kind in the country.

One major achievement is the restoration of the ecological environment of the Yellow River estuary in Dongying, where the waterway flows into the sea.

After three decades, the Yellow River knife fish has been spotted again, thanks to continuous efforts to restore the ecological balance in the area, according to Shandong's ecology and environment department.

The knife fish is a rare species that mainly lives in the lower reaches of the river. Due to overfishing and the low water runoff in the river basin, the knife fish population has been declining since the 1990s.

Measures to restore the delta's ecological system have been taken in recent years, which are in line with the national strategy of promoting ecological conservation and the high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

These measures include ecological restoration projects such as supplementary water supplies to ensure the health of wetlands, cordgrass eradication, and offshore biodiversity conservation. A state-of-the-art ecological monitoring facility has also been set up in the delta to manage data on meteorology, water and soil quality, and marine life.

Protecting the habitats of key species such as cranes, black-billed gulls, and Oriental white storks, has also been prioritized by authorities, along with preserving native flora such as wild soybeans. Aquatic life is also being increased to boost biodiversity levels.

The restored ecological system has benefited residents living near the Yellow River who are eyeing tourism opportunities. In Yangmiao, Kenli district, Dongying, next to the river new residential buildings sit in neat rows.

The community provides convenient services, including a seniors' canteen, kindergarten, clinic, and fitness room.

In addition, 140 old houses are due to be renovated and upgraded in two phases, in a bid to create a rural tourism destination. The project began trial operations in September, and is expected to create more than 200 jobs, said Zhang Mairong, Party secretary of the community.