The general secretary of the pulse orientation, mirror view, navigation, mother river protection and development of the Yangtze River | Xi Jinping

The Yangtze River, the largest river in China, is the mother river of the Chinese nation and an important support for the development of the Chinese nation.

Implementing the new development concept and constructing a new development pattern, the Yangtze River, which is increasingly presenting ecological beauty, is leveraging 11 provinces and cities along the river to become the main force leading China's high-quality economic development.

This is the scenery of the Tuotuo River captured on June 15, 2023 in the source area of the Yangtze River in Qinghai. In recent years, the ecological environment quality in the source area of the Yangtze River has gradually improved, ecological functions have been consolidated, water conservation has been increasing year by year, and wetland and aquatic ecosystems have continued to recover.

On May 28, 2019, rural residents in Maqu were picking up garbage. In order to protect the ecological environment of the source of the Yangtze River, Maqu Township, Anduo County, Xizang will organize a garbage collection activity of "protecting the source of the Yangtze River" in the whole township every week, led by party members and volunteers from each village, with the participation of ecological patrolmen and the voluntary participation of the masses.

This is the scenery of Sanjiangkou captured on June 26, 2023 in Yibin City, Sichuan Province. In recent years, Yibin City in Sichuan Province has adhered to ecological priority and green development, vigorously implemented the Yangtze River comprehensive governance project, and made continuous progress in the protection and restoration of the Yangtze River ecological environment.

This is a view of the Jinsha River taken on June 15, 2023 in Shigu Town, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province. In recent years, Yunnan Province, located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, has been focusing on building a green barrier. Multiple measures have been taken, including soil and water conservation projects, returning farmland to forests and grasslands, and controlling rocky desertification, to ensure that the clear water of the river flows continuously to the east.

This is the scenery of Guangyang Island in Chongqing, the largest island in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, captured on July 3, 2023. Guangyang Island was once planned as a commercial real estate development zone. With the launch of the Yangtze River conservation project, the local government has re planned according to the positioning of "Yangtze River Scenic Eye, Chongqing Ecological Island" and started to systematically restore the ecology. Nowadays, Guangyang Island has become a national "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as gold and silver" practice and innovation base.

This is a scene of Yangtze River finless porpoises frolicking in the water, taken on February 27, 2023 in Yichang City, Hubei Province. According to the scientific investigation results of the Yangtze River finless porpoise released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on February 28, 2023, the population of the Yangtze River finless porpoise is 1249. Compared to the previous scientific survey in 2017, the number of finless porpoises has seen a historic turning point of recovery.

This is a fishing boat parked by Dongting Lake, captured on December 17, 2019 in Jiangjiazui Town, Hanshou County, Changde, Hunan Province. Starting from 00:00 on January 1, 2020, 332 nature reserves and aquatic germplasm resource reserves in the Yangtze River Basin have completely banned productive fishing. Key water areas in the Yangtze River Basin have also entered a ten-year long-term fishing ban period.

This is a photo taken on January 15, 2021 at Chaqizhou in Kangshan Reclamation Farm, Yugan County, Jiangxi Province, by the shore of Poyang Lake. With the implementation of ecological restoration measures in key water areas of the Yangtze River, the environment of Poyang Lake is undergoing transformation. The latest bird data released by the National Nature Reserve Management Bureau of Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province at the beginning of the 2022 New Year shows that more than 766000 waterbirds were monitored and counted in the field, setting a new record for monitoring.

On December 30, 2022, the trial water and navigation of the Yangtze River to Huai River project and the commencement ceremony of the second phase of the project were held in Feixi County, Hefei City, Anhui Province. The Yangtze River and Huai River achieved a historic "hand in hand". The Yangtze River Diversion and Huaihe River Diversion Project is one of the 172 major water conservancy projects for water-saving and water supply in China. It is also a livelihood project that integrates water supply, navigation, and ecology.

This is the appearance of Changjiang Village in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, taken on October 17, 2022. In recent years, Changjiang Village has adhered to the concept of ecological priority and high-quality development, continuously expanding and strengthening the village economy. Currently, the physical annual sales revenue of the village has exceeded 100 billion yuan, and the villagers have shares, dividends, and social security, making it a well-known wealthy village.

This is a photo taken on July 9, 2023 at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Haitong Automobile Terminal. The Shanghai Waigaoqiao Haitong Automobile Terminal at the mouth of the Yangtze River is one of the largest automobile export terminals in China, and also an important terminal for automobile companies in various provinces and cities along the Yangtze River to go abroad. In 2022, the export of automobiles from this dock exceeded one million vehicles.

Chief photographer: Lan Hongguang, Ju Peng, Xie Huanchi, Cheng Min, Zhang Cheng, Zhou Jinshuai, Wang Xi, Chen Xinbo, Tang Yixiao, Yi Jiu, Xue Yuge, Peng Zhaozhi, Liu Junxi, Ji Chunpeng, Fang Zhe

Produced by the Photography Department of Xinhua News Agency