Baiyangdian, the largest freshwater wetland in northern China, has undergone significant restoration and protection efforts since the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province in 2017.
Situated in the Xiong'an New Area, the lake's vitality has been revitalized, leading to an enhancement in the water quality of Baiyangdian from Level V, the lowest in China's five-tier water assessment system, to Level III.
The area of Baiyangdian has been expanded from approximately 170 square kilometers to around 290 square kilometers, with the water level in the lake area maintaining a stable level of about 7.2 meters.
As the water quality improves, a growing number of wildlife species are returning to Baiyangdian, transforming the lake into a flourishing habitat for lotuses, reeds, and diverse fish species.
Enthusiastic bird watchers from across the country flock to Baiyangdian to observe the waterfowl and enjoy the picturesque scenery.
"There are so many birds here," said a tourist who was totally stunned by the view.
The rehabilitation program has achieved remarkable results that have been widely welcomed by the locals.
"I think my hometown is better than any other places," said a local resident.
A water quality monitor highlighted the implementation of a comprehensive monitoring system for Baiyangdian Lake to closely oversee its ecology and environment.
"Our ecological environment monitoring system in the Xiong'an New Area integrates the monitoring of the sky, space, land, and water. The sky refers to satellite remote sensing; space refers to drones equipped with high-spectral cameras; land refers to fixed monitoring stations as well as some mobile monitoring vehicles," said Zhu Tianzhe, a water quality monitoring staff member, Hebei Xiong'an New Area Ecology Environment Monitoring Center.
The dedicated and persistent efforts have borne fruit, as senior residents fondly reminisce that the lake has now returned to the idyllic state they cherished from their childhood memories.
"While chatting with the local residents, they said that the current Baiyangdian already gives them a childhood nostalgia," said Zhu Baofeng, head of water conservancy and environment department, Ecological Construction Company, China Xiong'an Group.
Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong’an experiences remarkable ecological revival
The rising popularity of Guochao, also known as the trend of "China-chic", has contributed to a consumption boom and more diversified consumption scenarios ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China-chic refers to fashion trends native to China, which incorporates unique native cultural elements into the latest trends.
For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand-new event "The Empress's Mid-Autumn Feast" at the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area in the National Archaeological Site Park of Sui-Tang Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province has attracted many visitors.
Through interactive experiences such as the performance of court music and dance, and the Empress Wu Zetian bestowing incense, it recreated the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) palace, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the holiday.
The "Hanfu craze" in Luoyang City has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting scenic spots and has extended the overall economic chain. This trend has boosted the popularity of services such as Hanfu rental, makeup and styling, and professional photography, making them widely popular.
In Luoyang's Luanchuan County, activities such as the "Fairy Palace Moon Viewing Party" at the peak of the Laojun Mountain, which stands over 2,000 meters above sea level, have driven a surge in business for the Hanfu stores at the mountain's summit, leading to a peak in consumer activity.
"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is witnessing an increase of over 50 percent in Hanfu rentals and sales, as well as travel photography services, compared with the same period last year. With such beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the demand for traditional China-chic consumption remains strong," said Jin Ge, owner of a Hanfu store atop the Laojun Mountain.
Driven by the rise of China-chic, creative cultural products are continuously updated with new offerings.
At a glazed glass workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong, skilled workers were busy crafting creative glassworks featuring lively jade rabbits, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As soon as the products hit the market, they quickly became popular both online and offline.
"While inheriting tradition, we've been exploring something new, developing creative products that better meet current market demands, thus winning the favor of a wide range of consumers," said Liu Jianhua, deputy general manager of Xiye Workshop.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on September 17 this year.
China-chic boom fuels consumption for Mid-Autumn Festival
