Transforming Ningxia from Polluted River to Thriving Wine Industry

The Transformative Power of China's Ecological Civilization Initiative

Huang Miansong, a national political advisor and practitioner in the environmental protection industry, has witnessed firsthand the transformative impacts of China's initiative to build an ecological civilization. He shared his insights during a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Huang highlighted the initiative's impact on his hometown, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, particularly the revitalization of the Qingshui River. Once polluted by sewage, the river has been restored to a clear, green, and scenic waterway, attracting residents for leisure activities. This improvement not only enhances the local environment but also raises environmental awareness, leading to an overall improvement in the ecological landscape and quality of life in Guyuan.

Due to the low ecological carrying capacity in the Xihaigu area, many people were relocated to the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains. Capitalizing on the area's unique conditions, these migrants, with the support of local governments, have transformed nearly 26,670 hectares of desert land into lush vineyards, creating a thriving wine industry. This industry now accounts for nearly 40% of China's total wine grape cultivation area, making it one of the six leading specialty industries in Ningxia.

Huang shared the story of a young woman who, after graduating from university, devoted herself to the local wine grape industry and planted over 200 hectares of wine grapes with her fellow villagers. This initiative has generated over 450,000 yuan ($6,200) per hectare from grape wine production, contributing to the poverty alleviation of nearly 130,000 migrants across the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains.

Huang emphasized that such examples of coordinated development between ecological improvement and industrial development are widespread across the country. By the end of last year, over 3.4 million people were employed in the ecological and environmental protection sector, generating annual revenue exceeding 2 trillion yuan, nearly quadrupling from over 10 years ago.

"As our investment in ecological governance continues to increase, the improvement in the quality of the ecological environment has been remarkably significant. Meanwhile, the ecological protection industry has been thriving and has become an essential part of our current productivity," concluded Huang.