Huaxi district prioritizes green development

Huaxi River is the mother river of Huaxi district in Guiyang. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

As an important water source protection area in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, Huaxi district has always prioritized environmental protection in economic development, and has accelerated the development of ecological agriculture, ecological industry and ecological tourism. 

Huaxi River, the district's main river, extends 11 kilometers and connects five local tourist attractions, including Shilihetan, which is an important part of the Huaxi National Urban Wetland Park – the first national urban wetland park in the province.

Before the establishment of the wetland park, local villages and small workshops in Shilihetan area discharged sewage everywhere due to lack of effective management and the fact that municipal pipe network infrastructure was not complete, deteriorating the water quality of some sections of Huaxi River.

Through the wetland restoration and construction project, Huaxi has relocated these villages, carried out river dredging and improved sewage pipe networks, which has transformed the dirty and messy environment into a beautiful wetland park and enhanced the water quality of Huaxi River.

The restored Huaxi River has now become more popular among residents, and the Huaxi National Urban Wetland Park has received more than 5 million visits annually on average.

In addition to a series of pollution control projects, Huaxi has also implemented the "River Chief System" in which chiefs are responsible for the management of their sections of river and must respond to problems to ensure a clean and clear environment for the Huaxi River.