As a young boy, Feng Erwei had fond memories of Baiyangdian Lake in Hebei province when people could drink its water directly and enjoy seeing the fish and shrimp underwater. However, rapid industrialization caused pollution to creep into parts of the lake, leading to a decline in its health to the point where locals avoided it due to its foul smell and pollution levels.

Since the announcement of the development plan for the Xiong'an New Area, encompassing Baiyangdian, efforts have been made to improve the environmental conditions of the area. The vision for the new area includes the creation of a green, low-carbon, and innovative city that can handle various functions of Beijing, located around 100 kilometers southwest of the capital.

President Xi Jinping's personal involvement in the development of Xiong'an underscores the importance of the project as a national initiative of significant importance. Xi has visited the area multiple times since 2017, emphasizing the need for concrete actions and sustained efforts in advancing the project. During his recent visit, he highlighted the ecological restoration efforts made for Baiyangdian and stressed the project's long-term significance.