"I come from the north, and I feel that every piece of grass and stone in Xiamen is very precious."

　　This is what Xi Jinping said when he was working in Xiamen in 1986.

　　In 1985, the State Council approved the expansion of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone to the entire island.

This summer, Xi Jinping, who moved south from Zhengding, Hebei Province, set foot on this hot land and served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and executive deputy mayor.

　　The day of arrival happened to be Xi Jinping's 32nd birthday.

Working in the special economic zone is the first time Xi Jinping has taken a leadership position at the municipal level, the first time he has directly participated in the reform and opening up of developed coastal areas, and the first time he has personally experienced the construction and management of a city.

　　After taking office, Xi Jinping started intensive research without stopping.

At that time, the pollution problem of Yuandang Lake was serious. A large amount of urban sewage was discharged into the lake. The water turned black and smelly. Passers-by covered their noses when passing by. Cars had to close their windows in advance when passing by. Residents around the lake kept their windows closed all year round.

What was once a "fishing fire" has become a "disaster" in the city, and people are complaining.

　　On one side is economic development, on the other side is ecological protection. Behind the Yuandang Lake problem is actually a development problem: Should economic development come first, or should ecological protection be the priority?

　　This tests the wisdom of those in power.

After in-depth research and thinking, Xi Jinping gave the answer: "Can we use partial destruction to carry out other aspects of construction? I think it is very clear that Xiamen cannot exchange for other aspects of development at this price."

　　In March 1988, Xi Jinping presided over a special meeting on "Comprehensive Management of Yuandang Lake" and creatively summarized the lake management strategy into a 20-character policy of "managing the lake according to law, intercepting and treating sewage, dredging and building banks, revitalizing the water body, and beautifying the environment." This kicked off the butterfly transformation of Yuandang Lake.

　　After continuous management, Yuandang Lake has clear water, green shores and flying egrets. It has transformed from a smelly lake that everyone avoids into a "city living room" that everyone rushes to.

　　"Looking up is the fresh blue, looking around is the pleasant green." In September 2017, the ninth BRICS leaders' meeting was held in Xiamen. Xi Jinping, who returned to his hometown, sighed: "The sea wind and waves are still the same, but Xiamen has The old look has been given a new look.”

　　At that time, when Xi Jinping arrived in Xiamen, there were basically no high-rise buildings and the lights were very sparse at night.

Nowadays, skyscrapers are rising in Xiamen, and lights are shining everywhere at night.

In this beautiful ecological garden city, man and nature coexist harmoniously.

　　"A lake drives a city." The comprehensive management of Yuandang Lake points out a high-quality development path in which people and the ocean coexist harmoniously. It is an important origin of Xi Jinping's thoughts on ecological civilization. Xiamen has also become an important breeding ground and place for Xi Jinping's thoughts on ecological civilization. Practice first.

　　Yuandang Lake treatment was rated as a "Demonstration Project for Marine Pollution Prevention and Management in East Asian Seas" by the United Nations Development Program and has been promoted globally.

　　From a pool of stagnant water to a "green lung of the city", the transformation of Yundang Lake holds the "key to development".

As a model for the construction of a beautiful China, the "Xiamen Practice" provides valuable inspiration: we must pay attention to the unity of high-quality development and high-level protection, and seek development based on the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.

　　"Lucid waters, lush mountains and mountains of gold and silver are by no means antagonistic. The key lies in people and ideas. Protecting the ecological environment means protecting productivity, and improving the ecological environment means developing productivity."

　　“Only by laying the foundation for green development can we achieve rapid development in the future.”

　　“If a person does not let down the green mountains, the green mountains will never let down the people.”

　　Nowadays, "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" has become the consensus of the entire Chinese society. This "key" has not only changed a lake or a city, but also a country and affected the world.

　　｜Producer: Chen Junjun

　　｜Director: Zhang Mingxin

　　｜Chief Planner: Yu Lan

　　｜Planner: Wu Qingcai

　　｜Coordinator: Ma Xueling

　　｜Written by: Li Jinlei

　　｜Proofreading: Yuan Xiuyue

　　｜Visual: Li Yilu

　　｜Produced by the "Xi Yan Dao" studio of China News Network