The Maqu wetlands in Gansu province are a breathtaking sight in mid-September. Lush grasslands stretch towards the horizon like a green carpet, with rivers and waterways shimmering under the late summer sun. A bridge spanning the Yellow River connects Qinghai province, where the river originates, with the Maqu wetlands.

The Yellow River winds its way through Maqu county for 433 kilometers, with over 300 of its tributaries flowing through vast grasslands and wetlands. These waterways replenish the Yellow River with nearly 10 billion cubic meters of water annually, making it a crucial water source conservation area in the upper reaches of the river.

President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of improving conservation efforts in the Yellow River basin and its high-quality development during a symposium in Lanzhou, Gansu's capital, on September 12. He underlined the need to promote new progress in ecological protection across the basin, green transformation, high-quality development, and improvement in the people's livelihood.

Despite facing challenges such as frequent flooding, efforts are already underway to strengthen the protection and development of this key waterway. In October 2021, China released a comprehensive outline for the protection and development of the Yellow River Basin, aiming to guide policy formulation and engineering projects to address the basin's unique challenges.

The implementation of the national Yellow River Protection Law in April 2022, along with provincial regulations tailored to local conditions, further enhances governance and protection of the river. Chen Xiaowei, director of the Yellow River channel management station in Lanzhou, emphasizes the importance of these policies and regulations in providing a foundation for their work.

Chen and his team not only patrol the river to monitor ecological challenges, but also disseminate policies and regulations to the public to enhance people's awareness about environmental protection. Their efforts have resulted in lush trees and fragrant flowers lining the banks of the Yellow River in Lanzhou, attracting residents and tourists alike.