The Bosten Lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region -- China's largest inland freshwater lake -- has gone through a remarkable round of transformation from being plagued by environmental problems to what is now an ecological paradise and the remote region's top fishery base.
With one-fourth of its lands covered by desert, Xinjiang is one of the driest regions in China. Yet the Bosten Lake stands as a green oasis where life thrives. The inland lake has even become an aquaculture base for seafood in recent years.
Fishermen living in the region are vigilant against overfishing -- undersized fish are always released upon catch, and fry are routinely released into the lake to maintain the stock.
Over a decade ago, the Bosten Lake showed a different image. In 2012 the lake triggered an ecological red-alert with industrial pollution and a water level hovering at an all-time low.
"Before 2012 the lake was much smaller. From where we're standing you would have had to walk several hundred meters to reach the water. Now the surface keeps expanding, fish species are rising -- to more than 30 at present -- and this year's catch should reach about 6 000 ton, almost double what it used to be," said Meng Xuegang, a local village official.
To restore the environment, the primary task was to bring water back. In 2018, the region began an eco-transfer -- water from the Kaidu River was diverted into the lake. In 2022, for the first time ever, the floodgates of the Qingshui River east and west branches hundreds of kilometers away were also opened to feed the lake. Over the past eight years, a total of 15.4 billion cubic meters of water has been sent in, and the water level on the lake has been maintained consistently at around a healthy 1 046.8 meters.
The local authorities have also made efforts to choke off pollution sources. The lake's water quality is also thoroughly monitored on a monthly basis. In 2025 the lake's average water quality has stabilized at Grade III, which translates to the grade of 'fairly good'.
With the eco-system improved, the Bosten Lake is also attracting visitors from across the country and playing a role in boosting tourism development in the area.
The transformation of the Bosten Lake is a microcosm of Xinjiang's water management. Since 2021, the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan period for national socioeconomic development, Xinjiang has invested 158 billion yuan (about 22 billion in U.S. dollars) into water infrastructure, completing 18 large and medium-sized reservoirs and 28 smaller water-source projects. Tap-water coverage in rural areas has reached 99.4 percent.
Environmentally challenged lake in Xinjiang turned into major fishery base
