The dream to “take shade under rice crops” is awakening the sleeping land for us to sow seeds of hope on saline-alkali soil. On the barren land once dubbed the “Scar of the Earth”, innovative technology has made harvest bountiful, and safeguarded the “Giant Panda of Arable Land”. The black soil now brims with vitality and the foundation of food security is getting stronger as the land heals and becomes increasingly fertile.

From the marine ranch of Yellow Sea, to the mangroves of South China Sea. From the “Oriental Swan Kingdom”, to the verdant resurgence in Hainan. Under such blessings, the ecosystem is reborn anew. Whooper swans have now returned to Rongcheng, while egrets have settled down in Lingshui. These homecomers are living proof of a revived ecology. With mangroves forming an ecological shield, and marine ranches serving as green granaries. Here, where corals, seagrass and mangroves co-exist, the Nature bestows a blue medal upon China’s marine governance.

The south-to-north water diversion mega project showcases how China gets along with its water environment. The endless supply of pristine water to the north is made possible by countless committed water guardians. When rare birds return to Xixi Wetland, and peach blossom jellyfish become water quality indicators, we realise that living rivers are the genes that preserve civilization.