Songyuan prospers with eco-restoration, ecotourism

By successfully integrating ecological restoration and tourism development, Songyuan, a city in Northeast China's Jilin province, has achieved both a thriving environment and high-quality economic growth, according to Li Xiaojie, Party chief of the city.

"With Chagan Lake serving as a model, Songyuan has been making comprehensive strides in ecological protection and ecotourism," Li said in a recent exclusive interview with China Daily.

Located in the central and western parts of Jilin, Songyuan boasts diverse ecological resources, with Chagan Lake — the largest natural lake in Jilin — as its "crown jewel".The lake was recently recognized as a national 5A-level tourist attraction.

Chagan is renowned for preserving the traditional ice-fishing culture of northern China's ethnic groups. The unique practice involves placing a fishing net beneath the ice and using horses to operate a winch. The ancient tradition dates back to the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) and remains vibrant today.

Each year on Dec 28, Songyuan hosts its annual winter fishing-themed festival, which has been celebrated 22 times, and this year's festival will also take place on that date. The city has expanded its tourism offerings, introduced new ventures in ice-and-snow tourism, and enhanced cultural and tourism consumption through its signature winter fishing festival.

Songyuan is ramping up efforts to protect the environment while striving to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, Li noted.

Through initiatives such as vegetation restoration and water ecology rehabilitation, the city has restored a cumulative 5,333 hectares of forests, grasslands and wetlands in recent years. Additionally, over 10 million fish fry are released into the lake annually. The annual reduction of nitrogen in the area has reached 12.7 metric tons.

To support different functions of the scenic area, green transportation and clean energy projects have been promoted. A 21-kilometer walkway now weaves through the area, and a natural gas station with a daily supply capacity of 90,000 cubic meters has been established. To combat pollution, two wastewater treatment centers and over 400 environmentally friendly garbage treatment facilities are in operation.

"The water is cleaner, the fish are fatter and the number of birds around the lake has grown significantly," Li said, reflecting on the changes.

Renowned for its abundant fish resources, Chagan Lake has seen its fish production rise from 3,000 tons to 5,000 tons. The number of bird species has also increased from 239 to 276, with 1.95 million birds inhabiting the area.

The synergy between ecological improvements and tourism has created a multiplier effect for the local economy. Over the past six years, Songyuan has hosted over 30 popular sports and cultural events, including the Chagan Lake Marathon and the Wetland Triathlon International Elite Competition.

The clean water is a natural treasure and a source of livelihood for residents, Li said.

Over 30 percent of residents in nearby villages are now engaged in tourism and related industries. The annual per capita income in the area rose from 12,000 yuan ($1,654) in 2017 to 30,000 yuan last year.

According to Li, Chagan Lake's integrated approach has driven the joint development of the ecological environment and the economy citywide.

This year, Songyuan has received 16.45 million tourist visits, a 16.5 percent increase from last year, generating 25.4 billion yuan in revenue. Ecotourism has become a cornerstone of the city's economic growth, Li said.

The city has implemented ultralow-emission transformations of coal-fired boilers, significantly improving air quality. This year, 90.9 percent of the days in Songyuan recorded good air quality.

As an essential clean energy hub in Jilin, Songyuan also has excellent potential for developing wind and solar power. The city's total installed wind and solar energy capacity is 38 million kilowatts, accounting for 33 percent of the province's total, Li added.

Songyuan has been advancing the integrated development of green electricity, hydrogen, the green chemical industry and equipment manufacturing, leveraging sustainable practices to drive economic growth.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn