Changhu Lake,the third largest lake of Hubei Province, is located at the North Jingzhou andon the upstream of the Four LakeBasin (Changhu Lake,Sanhu Lake, Bailu Lake and Honghu Lake), hence the name “a basin ofwater on the head of Jingzhou”. However, the extensive mudflat aquaculture andplanting in the embankment along the Changhu Lake have caused severe erosionsto the fronts and direct pollutions to the water. In order to solve theproblem, a battle of “returning polders to lake” is extremely urgent.

At the Yutai Section of the Phase I of the ReturningPolders to Lake & Ecological Remediation Project, the residential housesare being dismantle in the later stage. The next step is to remove the bottomsediment and dredge the lake to recover its natural ecology.

Tothe order of the working staff, the last houses in the polder of Yutai Village,Ji'nan Town, Ji’nan EcologicalCultural Tourism Area, Jingzhou, are being dismantled, indicating theend of the phase I of the project. In order to improve the water quality ofChanghu Lake, the fish pond and lotus pond in the polder will be dredged.

Amidthe returning work, the wetlands restoration along the Changhu Lake is also ongoing.Under a total investment of RMB 3 billion, the comprehensive treatment of FourLake Basin, ecological conservation of Changhu Lake and cultural tourism willbe integrated for ecological remediation on wetland protection and regionallandscape demonstration and improvement. The wetlands will be used as the“water purifier” for ecological purification of the Changhu Lake.

WangYu, resident representative of the Field Group of the Command Office of ChanghuLake Wetland Restoration at Ji’nan Ecological Cultural Tourism Area, Jingzhou,told us that, with focus on ecological restoration and wetland protection, thelotus and fish ponds and farm land will be maximally retained and properlyutilized in design as the green base of the park, so as to restore the naturalregulation of the original lake shoreline and wetlands. After completion, thepark will become a favored leisure and rest place for residents, and the venuefor various sports events and activities in Jingzhou. All the buildings andstructures in the park will become the landmark for the area and even Jingzhou.

Fromthe “enclosure” to the “removal”, the Changhu Lake witnessed a dramatic changefrom degradation to recovery, which reflects the unremitting pursuit to theecological civilization construction and green development. Another picturesquelandscape is about to rise on Changhu Lake in the coming future.