Revived desert wetland in north China becomes paradise for migratory birds

A dramatic transformation has taken place at the once-murky Shahu Lake scenic area in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, turning the site into a paradise for migratory birds. The picturesque Shahu, a lake surrounded by desert in the outskirts of Ningxia's Shizuishan City, welcomed its first batch of migratory birds this autumn. As a transit point on the southern migration route for many species, the area will soon see an even greater influx of birds in the coming days.

To support these birds in foraging, a 200-hectare rice field has been planted to ensure a stable food source.

Just eight years ago, however, the marsh was not nearly as welcoming for these feathered creatures. Stagnant water resulted in the breeding of pathogens that caused widespread fish deaths and the extinction of aquatic plants.

In 2017, local authorities initiated comprehensive ecological management to address poor water circulation. A 400-hectare wetland was built adjacent to the core water area, allowing the water to flow freely and undergoing internal recycling and purification.

The water quality significantly improved after three years of efforts. Now, a total of 32 previously unseen bird species have been discovered in the wetland area, including black storks, a first-level protected species in the country. The total number of bird species has risen from fewer than 180 to over 210. Migratory birds such as grey geese and cormorants have even turned the wetland a long-term habitat.

In recent years, Ningxia has protected and restored nearly 40,000 hectares of wetlands, established 26 wetland parks and four nature reserves to create a suitable habitat for birds, as well as an attractive site for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.

The region has also made strides in reviving the ecosystems and natural environments in all of its diverse terrain, from deserts to grasslands.

Today, the ratio of days with air quality rated "excellent" in cities at and above prefecture level in Ningxia has remained above 80 percent for nine consecutive years. The water quality for the section of the Yellow River within Ningxia has remained at grade II -- meaning fit for direct human touch -- for seven consecutive years. The forest coverage exceeded 11 percent and the grassland vegetation coverage reached 56.8 percent, and the proportion of sandified areas has decreased from 85 percent to 19.31 percent.

Populations of major wild animals, such as blue sheep and red deer have continued to grow, and even snow leopards, which had been absent for many years, have made a return to Ningxia.

Revived desert wetland in north China becomes paradise for migratory birds

Revived desert wetland in north China becomes paradise for migratory birds

China's development has never been a "threat" to anyone but the source of growth advancing common development of all countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Friday.

Some Western media and think tanks are peddling so-called "China Shock 2.0," saying that "China is achieving fast development in high-tech sectors such as renewable energy and AI and relies on foreign markets to absorb its overcapacity, thus reducing the market share of developed countries and sending more serious shock waves to the global economy compared with the era of traditional manufacture industry," while there are foreign commentators saying that the "China Shock 2.0" argument ignores the genuine innovation occurring within the Chinese industrial ecosystem and that Chinese export is the exact booster of the global economy that is needed in the turbulent period and more indispensable than ever.

Commenting on that, Lin said: "From the world's factory to the world's market and innovation powerhouse, China's development is achieved through strong performance driven by innovation and brings tangible cooperation opportunities and space to the world. High-quality Chinese products represented by the 'old three' of textiles, furniture and home appliances have stabilized the global industrial and supply chain, lowered the living cost of global consumers and eased the inflationary pressure worldwide. China's green production capacity represented by the 'new three' of electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels has bridged the gap between supply and demand in global green development and bolstered the global energy transition and low-carbon development. Moreover, China's high-tech products represented by the 'new new three' of robots, AI and innovative drugs have broken high-tech barriers and monopoly and enabled people in more countries to access affordable new technologies," said the spokesman.

"Openness and cooperation bring about progress and win-win result. China's development has never been a 'threat' to anyone but the source of growth advancing common development of all countries. What really creates 'shocks' to the world has never been the innovation of Chinese companies and efficiency of Chinese industrial capacity, but protectionist moves of setting up barriers, decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains. China will stay committed to high-standard opening up, defend the multilateral trading system and provide more certainty and new impetus to the world economy with its own steady development," said Lin.

China's development never a threat: FM spokesman