Hohhot, January 12 (Xinhua) -- Title: A Chronicle of the Ecological Transformation of "One Lake and Two Seas" in Inner Mongolia
Reporter Zhang Linhu
In the depths of winter, the Inner Mongolian Plateau is gripped by biting cold, but the "one lake and two seas" (Hulun Lake, Daihai Lake, and Wuliangsuhai Lake) are far from dormant. Beneath the ice, fish and shrimp swim, teeming with life; on the lake shores, migratory birds flock, tirelessly guarding the ecosystem. From patrolling on foot to using smart technology, from managing the lakes to managing the entire watershed, generations of dedication have enabled Hulun Lake, Daihai Lake, and Wuliangsuhai Lake—the three major ecological barriers of northern Xinjiang—to undergo a profound ecological transformation.
The photo shows marine police clearing hard straw from the hatchery area (file photo). Photo by Liu Shuquan.Hulun Lake: Guardians and Heritage on the Frozen Lake
Hulun Lake, meaning "lake like the sea" in Mongolian, is the largest lake in Inner Mongolia. When frozen over, the lake may appear calm, but hidden dangers lurk beneath the surface, testing the courage and wisdom of its guardians.
Since the beginning of winter, Zhang Lishi, a veteran police officer at the Shuangshanzi Police Station of the Hulun Lake Branch of the Hulunbuir Public Security Bureau, has been carefully checking the equipment used for ice patrols every day. "Life jackets must be worn properly, and life ropes must be tied tightly," he repeatedly emphasizes to his colleagues as if he were instructing a child.
"Only by experiencing it can one truly understand the seriousness of the situation. I've been through it, but I don't want them to." Zhang Lishi nearly drowned when his fishing nets got tangled in the propeller of a speedboat. Now, at 57, he remains steadfast in his commitment.
The spirit of perseverance is passed down from generation to generation. In 2021, Li Guolong, a post-90s police officer, arrived at the desolate Wudulu Police Station and initially felt out of place. Under the leadership of the former station chief Guo Shucun, he braved ice and snow, patrolled the lake to rescue birds, and even narrowly escaped death when his vehicle plunged into the lake during an ice patrol. "Before, I only heard about dangers, but after experiencing it myself, I realized what it means to be on the brink of death."
Thanks to the efforts of generations of guardians, the ecology of Hulun Lake has continued to improve. Gao Guoquan, deputy director of the Hulun Lake Public Security Bureau, introduced that in the past decade, more than 100 criminal cases involving the ecology have been investigated, and more than 600 protected animals have been rescued. The latest monitoring shows that the number of birds in the reserve has increased significantly, and the police station has become a stopover for wild animals, with frequent sights of foxes "visiting" and rescued swans returning and circling.
The photo shows the Daihai Wetland in late autumn. (Photo by Gao Pengfei)Daihai Lake: From "68" to "110"—An Ecological Answer Sheet
Daihai Lake, located in Liangcheng County, Ulanqab City, is known as the "Heavenly Lake Beyond the Great Wall." Every morning, ranger Chen Yu sets off on his patrol around the lake with his equipment. He has been protecting this 129.7 square kilometer wetland for over 10 years.
"I walked up to 23 kilometers in one day, and my legs were so swollen at night that I couldn't even take my pants off," Chen Yu said. This perseverance has brought her a precious reward.
One morning, Chen Yu discovered a Great Bustard, a Class I protected animal in China, in the core area. This critically endangered bird, of which only about 300 remain in the country, was inhabiting this place. "My hands were shaking at the time, and I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest," Chen Yu said. In order to protect these "rare visitors," he set up an observation shed in the wild and kept watch for a month.
Changes in bird species are the most direct barometer of ecology. "Before the restoration efforts, there were only 68 bird species, but now that number has increased to 110. In addition to the great bustard, there are also red-crowned cranes that overwinter here," Chen Yu said, pointing to the monitoring report with a gleam in his eyes.
In 2025, thanks to water replenishment from the Yellow River and ample rainfall, the surface area of Daihai Lake reached a new high in nearly ten years. Hydrological monitoring data in December 2025 showed that the surface area of Daihai Lake was 64 square kilometers, an increase of 16.7 square kilometers compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and the surrounding groundwater level increased by 1.45 meters.
The photo shows migratory birds at Wuliangsuhai Lake. (Photo by Wang Tie)Wuliangsuhai: The "Kidney of the Yellow River" Rejuvenated
In recent days, the surface of Wuliangsuhai Lake has been covered in a blanket of snow. Amidst the tranquility, a bay of clear water in the core area glistens with light, where tens of thousands of ruddy shelducks and mallards either frolic in the water or soar in the air, their clear calls piercing the morning mist, adding a vibrant touch to the winter landscape of northern China.
"The migratory birds that stay here to overwinter are mainly ruddy shelducks and mallards, and the number is expected to be even higher this year," said Liu Wenbin, captain of the Wuliangsuhai Lake Management Team in Bayannur City. From a few hundred "passersby" in the past to about 50,000 migratory birds choosing to overwinter here today, the continuous growth of bird populations has become a vivid testament to the improving ecology of Wuliangsuhai Lake.
As an important natural purification area in the Yellow River Basin, Wuliangsuhai Lake is known as the "Kidney of the Yellow River". In recent years, the local government has promoted the integrated protection of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grasslands and deserts in the basin, implemented ecological water replenishment, pollution control and wetland restoration, and achieved the transformation from "governing the lake" to "governing the basin" and from "single element" to "multi-element" systematic governance.
With the overall water quality steadily improving, the number of aquatic plant species in the lake area has increased to more than 30, providing ample food sources for birds. At the same time, the reserve has built a bird intelligent identification and monitoring system and set up 6 electronic patrol points, realizing an upgrade from "foot patrols" to "smart eyes".
Today, 263 species and approximately 700,000 birds migrate and breed at Wuliangsuhai Lake. Transforming from a migratory stopover into a wintering home, the increasing number of migratory birds "stopping" here testifies to the ecological recovery of this internationally important wetland. (End)
