Imagine a place where water shimmers like liquid silver, birds glide between lush trees, and locals jog along serene pathways 🏞️. Welcome to Yundang Lake in Xiamen, Fujian Province—a modern-day eco-miracle that once reeked of industrial waste!
From ‘Black Water’ to Blue Skies
Retired teacher Chen Yajin, 65, recalls the 1980s when Yundang Lake was nicknamed ‘black water lake.’ ‘People held their breath and ran past,’ she said. Rapid urbanization had turned it into a dumping ground for sewage and factory waste. 🌑
How Xiamen Fixed the Unfixable
The city launched a mega-cleanup in 1984: relocating factories, installing sewage systems, and using lake sludge to build a bird-friendly island 🏝️. They even connected the lake to the sea for natural water exchange! After five major restoration campaigns, the lake now hosts 80+ bird species and six parks. 🦢
Nature’s Comeback Tour
Today, residents call it their ‘recreational center’—proof that cities can balance growth and green spaces. As Chen says: ‘This is what happens when a community fights for nature.’ 🌏✨
