A lake with clear water reflects Xiamen’s long-standing ecological civilization practice.
Yuandang Lake, located in the west of Xiamen Island in Fujian Province, was once a natural haven. The bay was slender, like an arm, holding Xiamen Island.
In the 1970s, Xiamen sought land from the sea and built embankments to encircle the lake, turning Yuandang Port into Yuandang Lake.
In the 1980s, with the construction and development of the surrounding areas, Yuandang Lake was under increasing environmental pressure.
In March 1988, Comrade Xi Jinping, then member of the Standing Committee of the Xiamen Municipal Party Committee and Executive Vice Mayor, presided over a special meeting to determine the strategy for lake management, which started the transformation of Yundang Lake.
Comrade Xi Jinping’s creative ideas for lake management are summarized in the “20-character policy” - manage the lake according to law, intercept and treat sewage, dredge and build banks, revitalize water bodies, and beautify the environment.
For more than 30 years, Xiamen has insisted on drawing a blueprint to the end and working on one task after another. The governance of Yundang Lake has transformed from point to surface, from underwater to shore, and from single governance to joint governance.
Today, the water quality of the Yuandang Lake area has been significantly improved, the reoxygenation capacity of the water body has been enhanced, and the biodiversity has been continuously enriched.
Xiamen strives to enrich and expand its successful experience in comprehensive management of Yuandang Lake, build a comprehensive protection and management pattern from the top of the mountain to the ocean, promote the integration and symbiosis of "mountains, seas, industries, cities, and people", and explore a collaborative way to promote high-quality development and high-quality development. A practical path for ecological civilization that horizontally protects and promotes the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Ecological governance creates a harmonious picture of the sea of humanity
The city's air quality compliance rate reaches 99.7%. The water quality compliance rate in centralized drinking water sources, national-controlled and provincial-controlled sections in major river basins, and provincial-controlled sections in small watersheds all maintains 100%. The city's water quality compliance rate in the sea discharge outlets is 99.3%. Ecology The civilization index ranks among the top cities at the prefecture level and above in the country... Xiamen actively implements Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thoughts, innovates mechanisms and systems, coordinates comprehensive management, and strives to create a green model with high ecological appearance.
Several white figures jumped out of the water, drawing beautiful arcs in mid-air... In the waters near Haicang, Xiamen, three leaping Chinese white dolphins brought surprises to surrounding residents.
The Chinese white dolphin is a national first-level protected animal, and Xiamen is one of the few cities in the country where you can often see the Chinese white dolphin in urban waters.
"Water pollution and ocean noise are factors that affect the reproduction and reproduction of Chinese white dolphins." Cai Libo, director of the Xiamen Chinese white dolphin amphioxus nature reserve affairs center, said that previously, the number of Chinese white dolphins in Xiamen waters had declined sharply and was in an endangered state. .
Following Cai Libo, we boarded a speedboat and headed west out of the main island of Xiamen. A small island called Huoshao Island held the answer to the reappearance of dolphins.
In 1997, Xiamen established the Chinese White Dolphin Nature Reserve.
Since 2002, Xiamen has successively invested more than 58 million yuan in building the Huoshaoyu Chinese White Dolphin Rescue and Breeding Base.
With the support of science and technology, the habits of dolphins are becoming more accurate as they are touched, and their protection methods are becoming more and more sophisticated.
The Huoshao Island Chinese White Dolphin Rescue and Breeding Base cooperates with scientific research units such as the Third Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and has frequently produced scientific research results on dolphin sonar characteristics and dolphin ethology.
It is full of "technical style" and consolidates the ecological background.
In 1996, Xiamen established a marine expert group to provide intellectual support for government decision-making.
At the same time, relying on Xiamen’s strong advantages in marine scientific research and technology, a scientific and technological support system for comprehensive marine management has been established.
Promoting bay area restoration, scientific planting and reconstruction of mangrove wetlands, and coordinating the entire chain of land and sea pollution control... Technological empowerment has helped Xiamen's ecological governance modernization level continue to improve.
Wearing a uniform and carrying a bag on her shoulder, Lin Sisi observed and recorded along the Daitou River in Xike Town, Tong'an District, Xiamen.
As a judge assistant of the Administrative and Ecological Environment Tribunal of Tongan District People's Court, such ecological visits are an important part of her daily work.
The ecological concept is integrated into judicial work, and the case of sand theft in the sea handled by Lin Sisi is one example.
The defendant Guo Mouxiang illegally mined sand in the shoal, making it impossible to carry out ecological restoration at the sand mining site. A simple fine cannot reflect the ecological value.
"After mediation, the defendant voluntarily purchased marine carbon sinks worth more than 420,000 yuan through the Xiamen Property Rights Exchange Center and delivered them to the Xiamen City Ecological Judiciary Public Welfare Carbon Account." Lin Sisi proposed this new plan, and the final judgment incorporated both judicial and ecological concepts. .
Named a national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone, leading the country in marine carbon sink trading, and continuing to promote ecosystem value accounting... Xiamen continues to deepen reform and innovation in the field of ecological civilization, promoting the implementation of 36 reform tasks and 56 reform results.
Located in the southeastern corner of Xiamen Island, the Wuyuan Bay Maishan area is a home built by Xiamen for a small bird called the chestnut-throated bee-eater.
"The chestnut-throated bee-eater is a national second-level protected animal. It is named because of its chestnut-red throat. It is the 'most beautiful bird' in the eyes of many bird watching enthusiasts." said Peng Zhiwei, president of the Xiamen Bird Watching Association.
Around 2010, bird watching enthusiasts discovered the chestnut-throated bee-eater for the first time.
"The Wuyuanwan Mashan area was under construction at the time. After excavation, the steep mounds left behind were just right for the chestnut-throated bee-eater's habit of digging holes in the cliffs to build nests," Peng Zhiwei said.
On the one hand, there is the ongoing urban construction, and on the other hand, the accidental visit of the "most beautiful bird". How to choose?
Xiamen has chosen to take the path of ecological priority and green development.
In December 2011, Xiamen’s first nature reserve established in the central city—Wuyuanwan Chestnut-throated Bee-Tiger Nature Reserve—was established.
Fully closed management is implemented in the protected area to retain native vegetation and wild animal communities to ensure the smooth reproduction of chestnut-throated bee-eaters.
As staff member Duan Daoqing patrols the reserve, the earthen walls full of holes hide ingenuity.
"This is an artificially built nest for migratory birds, which can attract more chestnut-throated bee-eaters to 'settle down'." Duan Daoqing said that the reserve will also include the surrounding Tongyu Wetland to become a feeding ground for birds.
A bird's paradise "grows" in the downtown area where every inch of land is at a premium.
Data shows that more than 3,000 chestnut-throated bee-eaters were detected in the reserve in 2023.
Letting the chestnut-throated bee-eaters fly is a highlight in Xiamen’s “blueprint to be drawn to the end”.
In 2014, Xiamen launched the exploration of "multiple plans into one", drawing a "blueprint" for overall spatial planning, and building an ecological security pattern of "one screen, one bay and ten corridors" and an urban spatial pattern of "one island, one belt, multiple centers".
The city has delineated 981 square kilometers of ecological control lines, 204 square kilometers of terrestrial ecological protection red lines, and 84 square kilometers of marine ecological protection red lines to reasonably determine urban development capacity.
Governance will not be relaxed and the level will be further improved. From the sea to the entire region, Xiamen's ecological civilization practice will move forward in depth.
Prioritize green and activate new momentum for development
In September 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during the BRICS Business Forum in Xiamen: "Today's Xiamen has developed into a high-quality city of innovation and entrepreneurship, with new economies and new industries developing rapidly, trade and investment keeping pace, maritime transportation, land transportation, Air transportation reaches all five continents. Today’s Xiamen is also a beautiful ecological garden city, where man and nature coexist harmoniously.”
Promoting high-quality development with high-level protection, Xiamen’s ecological civilization practice activates new momentum for development.
In this village, the beautiful starry sky can be "sold for money"——
The mountain road is winding. The military camp in the northwest of Lianhua Town, Tong'an District, Xiamen City has an average altitude of nearly 1,000 meters. It is one of the most remote administrative villages in Xiamen.
Located deep in the mountains, resources are scarce.
Gao Quanwei, secretary of the Party branch of Junying Village, recalled that once, there were only a few good plots of land where tea could be grown, and villagers cut down forests to use as fuel for tea frying, leaving the green hills devastated.
In April 1986, Comrade Xi Jinping came to Junying Village for investigation. Based on the actual development of mountainous villages, he proposed the development idea of "wearing hats on the mountain and developing under the mountain" according to local conditions.
As a result, the green evolution of Junying Village started - afforestation and greening on the mountain. Now the village has more than 4,100 acres of public welfare forest area; more than 6,500 acres of tea gardens under the mountain have been ecologically transformed to develop diversified operations.
Optimistic about the increasingly beautiful ecological environment, villager Gao Shuzi returned to his hometown to start a business in 2019 and opened a starry sky viewing campground in the village.
"The military camp village has a high altitude, which is suitable for stargazing and is very popular with tourists." Gao Shuzi said that the mountains have become the backing, and it is difficult to find a person here during the peak holiday season.
After having a tourist meal at his doorstep, Gao Quanwei calculated the village's income account: "The village currently has more than 70 B&Bs. It will receive more than 200,000 tourists in 2023, and the per capita annual income of villagers will exceed 45,000 yuan."
This bay is both a landscape and a development line——
The sea breeze blows on the face, and Xiamen Wuyuan Bay is full of tourists.
More than 20 years ago, this beach was still a deserted tidal flat.
"The natural ecosystem here has been seriously damaged due to excessive breeding, garbage dumping, seawall filling, etc." recalled Wang Da, member of the Standing Committee of the Huli District Committee and Deputy District Chief of Xiamen City.
In 2002, the ecological restoration and comprehensive development work of the Wuyuan Bay area was launched.
Removing seawalls to revitalize water bodies, clearing out aquaculture to achieve dredging, and improving greening to enhance ecological vitality... With this combination, Wuyuan Bay is ushering in a new life.
With clear water, clean beaches and a gathering of fish and gulls, Wuyuan Bay has become a "new living room in the city" for seaside leisure.
Based on its ecological advantages, Wuyuan Bay anchors the development of highly concentrated and high value-added industries, and the yacht industry emerged as the times require.
"Wuyuan Bay Yacht Port is currently one of the largest and most mature yacht ports in China." Lin Ruibin, executive director of Xiamen Luqiao City Service Development Co., Ltd., which is responsible for yacht operations, introduced that in 2023, the development of the Wuyuan Bay yacht industry will accelerate, and maritime consumption will The number of experience tourists reached 550,000.
Lin Ruibin introduced that the entire yacht industry chain includes yacht research and design, manufacturing, sales and maintenance management, as well as a series of supporting facilities such as catering and hotels.
At present, the entire yacht industry chain has been initially formed in Xiamen.
This port has both high efficiency and “zero emissions”——
With the sound of the whistle, the 399.9-meter-long container ship "Mediterranean Gurzon" docked steadily at the Xiamen Port Terminal. The giant ship was connected to the dock's shore power system and continued to receive shore-based power supply during its berth.
"In the past, diesel generators were used to provide power for ship berthing operations, and how to control pollutant emissions became a difficult problem." Technical personnel said that now the shore power system at the front of the terminal replaces the power supply of ship generators, basically achieving "zero emissions."
At the Hairun Terminal of Xiamen Port, the gantry crane known as the "oil tiger" in the past has been changed to electric drive, and pure electric patrol cars and forklifts are busy going back and forth; the trailer crossing has been fully intelligently operated, and the efficiency has been significantly improved... Green Smart Port The construction was quite effective.
At present, the terminal’s production energy saving rate has reached 18.9%.
"Ports must not only contribute to economic development, but also drive energy conservation, emission reduction, transformation and upgrading." said the relevant person in charge of Xiamen Port Holding Group Co., Ltd.
In 2022, Xiamen Port will realize all-electric transformation. The terminal can reduce diesel consumption by about 2,700 tons per year, save energy by about 2,150 tons of standard coal, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 5,400 tons.
Adhering to ecological priority and green development, Xiamen has embarked on a high-quality development path of "optimizing growth through the environment and improving the environment through development."
In 2023, the added value of Xiamen's strategic emerging industries will account for 46.6% of the added value of industries above designated size, of which the output value of the new energy industry will increase by 32.5%; the added value of high-tech manufacturing will account for 40.2% of the added value of industries above designated size.
To coordinately promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion and growth, and promote ecological priority, conservation and intensive, green and low-carbon development, Xiamen has built a modern industrial system of "4 pillar industry clusters + 4 strategic emerging industries + 6 future industries". The degree of greening of the economy has been greatly improved, and new drivers of development and new advantages have been continuously created.
People-oriented, build a livable and workable home together
Wearing a blue vest and sneakers, Chen Yajin arrived at Bailuzhou Park on the bank of Yuandang Lake early. He patrolled from east to west. He found 3 dead branches and leaves along the 4-kilometer route and reported issues 1 to citizens. at.
Chen Yajin, who has been a teacher at Haicang Middle School in Xiamen all his life, has a new identity after retirement.
Xiamen City is exploring mobilizing private forces to participate in the protection of Yuandang Lake. In April 2020, multiple departments jointly issued a recruitment notice to recruit "citizen lake directors" to the general public, and Chen Yajin was hired.
"It is everyone's responsibility to protect our homeland," he said.
The water is clear, the shore is green, egrets are flapping their wings, and more than 1,300 poinciana trees are swaying in the wind in the Maluan Bay Ecological Three Islands Park at the northwest end of Xiamen's west sea.
Security guard Lin Yongcheng, 55, has been guarding the park for two years.
He lives in nearby Xin'an Village and has been in Maluan Bay since he was a child.
What was Maluan Bay like at that time?
Thousands of acres of tidal flats are covered with shrimp ponds, and sewage is discharged directly into the bay.
Since 2016, the Maluan Bay area has implemented an ecological restoration project.
The original shrimp pond gradually transformed into an ecological three-island park, named after the city tree, city flower, and city bird.
On City Tree Island, next to the Poinciana tree, scan the QR code on the adoption plate to see the tree information at a glance.
"When the roots of the tree take root deeply and the trunk grows stronger, you can take your grandson to see your own tree." A Poinciana tree that Lin Yongcheng adopted three years ago is now as thick as a bowl.
From rivers and lakes to bays, the stories of ordinary people reflect the concept of ecological civilization that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Xiamen insists on putting people first, allowing citizens to share the results of ecological civilization construction and build a livable and workable home.
In January this year, the roundabout slow lane in Huli District, Xiamen City was officially completed.
This 23.6-kilometer-long "blue ribbon" integrates the functions of jogging, fitness, cycling, and sightseeing. It connects more than 10 scenic areas such as Lighthouse Park and Wutong Pier, and is another good place for citizens to exercise and relax.
"Xiamen's ecological environment is very attractive to foreign companies." Wei Lai, general manager of Xiamen Chengtou Digital Intelligence Industry Development Co., Ltd.
In the East China Sea area where the ecology has been restored and rejuvenated, Tong'an New City, a city-industry integration, is growing rapidly, with nearly 2,000 companies settling in.
How many functions can a car display screen achieve?
Xiamen Tianma Display Technology Co., Ltd.’s new-generation flexible display screen has been an eye-opener for many car owners. It integrates instrumentation, navigation, and entertainment functions. It can also be bent and adjusted according to the user’s height and viewing habits. With a finger touch, it can be easily " Hidden" to ensure driving safety.
Many high-tech achievements are inseparable from Xiamen's emphasis on and encouragement of technological innovation.
"From the initial low-temperature polysilicon to today's flexible organic light-emitting diodes, we have closely followed Xiamen's development direction of cultivating high-tech, focusing on R&D and strong innovation. The total investment has exceeded 100 billion yuan." Executive Vice President of Tianma Microelectronics Co., Ltd., Xiamen said Wang Lei, general manager of Tianma Display Technology Co., Ltd.
A Boeing 777 passenger plane is parked in the maintenance base workshop of Xiamen Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. in the Huli District Aviation Industrial Park.
Julian, an aviation industry talent from a Nordic country, started a new busy day.
In 2019, he came to Xiamen Taikoo Engine Services Co., Ltd. as senior manager of business development.
In his first year of employment, Julian formulated a new plan to develop component repair capabilities focusing on high-value components, which greatly improved the company's business and technical capabilities.
"From recruiting international talents from around the world, to deepening reforms and innovating talent recognition mechanisms, to optimizing the ecosystem and retaining talents with practical service measures, Xiamen is actively committed to creating new momentum for high-quality development driven by innovation and led by talents." Xiamen According to the relevant person in charge of the Office of the Municipal Party Committee’s Talent Leading Group, as of the end of 2023, Xiamen’s total human resources reached 1.63 million, including 59,000 international talents and nearly 20,000 high-level talents.
In 2023, Xiamen was selected as the "Most Attractive Chinese City in the Eyes of Foreign Talents" and won the title of "China's Best Talent Attracting City of the Year" for three consecutive years.
“Following the blueprint drawn up by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Xiamen will continue to improve the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the ecosystem, better integrate high-level protection, high-quality development, and high-quality life, and strive to build a better human society. The exploration and experimentation of Chinese-style modernization in harmony with nature is the first step to explore the path." said the main responsible comrade of the Xiamen Municipal Party Committee.
People’s Daily reporter Zhong Ziwei and Liu Xiaoyu