Celebrities hail ecological civilization in Yanqing, Beiing: afforestation experience is reference for the world

On August 20, 2019 "China Now: Silk Road Rediscovery Tour of Beijing Upon the 70th Anniversary of the PRC", sponsored by Information Office of Beijing Municipality, was officially launched at Tongxing Square in Beijing Expo 2019. Celebrities from 13 countries along the Belt and Road including Cambodia, Myanmar, Iran, Kenya, Germany, Russia, Turkey, etc. visited Yanqing Ecological Small Courtyard and Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park to learn about the development process and achievements of ecological civilisation in Yanqing.

Celebrities visited Yanqing Ecological Small Courtyard (photo by Nie Zheng)

Yanqing Ecological Small Courtyard, located in the Beijing Expo Town in the park of the Beijing Expo 2019, has simple and unsophisticated model and lots of tourists. Adopting three exhibition methods including scene-based construction, story-based expression and immersive experience, the courtyard displays the achievements of ecological construction in Yanqing and the good life that brought to people through green development vividly.

Under the guidance of stand-attendant, celebrities group watched pictures and videos displayed in the courtyard, and saw remarkable change in Yanqing, where ecological oasis has replaced wasteland through afforestation project. Maung Maung oo, writer and media professional and China expert from Myanmar, sighed with excitement, "The exhibition make me know that Yanqing protects its environment well, which make me quite surprised." He thought that China's experience in environment protection and greening is beneficial reference for the rest countries in the world. 

Bae In Sun, Head of China News Group of International Department of the Asian Economy in South Korea, said that Yanqing District has been working hard to improve its ecological environment for 70 years. Local people's persistent efforts have transformed a barren land into a green land. At present, Yanqing is a model of ecological civilization construction.

Landscape in the Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park (photo by Qu Yi)

After visiting Yanqing Ecological Small Courtyard, the celebrities group went to the Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park, located in northwest of Yanqing. The Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park is an important bird habitat in North China and the transfer station of the route from East Asia to Australia, one of the birds' migration routes. It is rich in animal and plant resources. The total number of birds found has reached 346, higher plants 472 and insects 200.

Celebrities visited the Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park (photo by Qu Yi)

At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, the Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park is full of greenery. After rain, the air is extraordinarily fresh and the park with beautiful environment is more elegant and quieter. Celebrities not only visited the park, but also climbed the eight-story Wanghu Building and had a bird's-eye view of the park. All celebrities highly praised the management pattern of the wetland park and the rapid development of Beijing in terms of ecological civilization construction.

It was the fifth time for Lapin Eduard, Press Spokesperson of All Russian Nature Conservation Association and Director of Media and Public Relations Bureau, Russian Institute of Ecology, to come to Beijing. He said that great headway has been made in Beijing's ecological governance. He hoped that China and Russia will deepen cooperation in terms of ecological governance to seek for solutions to ecological issues.

Farvartish Rezvaniyeh, writer, freelancer and social activist from Iran, visits the Wild Duck Lake Wetland Park (photo by Qu Yi)

"I saw staffs working hard to protect the land and birds, which is very commendable. Beijing can be an exemplary model for many cities in the world." Farvartish Rezvaniyeh, writer, freelancer and social activist from Iran, said.

Yasir Habib Khan, senior celebrities of GEO Television Station in Pakistan, is interviewed (photo by Qu Yi)

After the visit, Yasir Habib Khan, senior celebrities of GEO Television Station in Pakistan, suggested that Beijing creates a liveable environment and make local people lead their good life, which demonstrates that Beijing government abides by the promise of serving people. Beijing's afforestation experience is worth learning by other cities in China and many countries in the world.