Two decades ago, the hills of Changting in southern China were bare, eroded and emblematic of environmental degradation. Today, they stand transformed into a lush, thriving landscape — a testament to what local residents call "the vision of ecological civilization from President Xi Jinping".

For decades, the county located in Longyan of Fujian province and known as one of the nation's most erosion-prone regions, stood as a stark example of the environmental degradation afflicting the development. But a visit from Xi in 1999 sparked a monumental turnaround.

Xi, then deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Fujian Provincial Committee and acting governor, made a special visit to Changting, making comprehensive soil erosion control as one of 15 key livelihood improvement projects of Fujian. During his tenure in the province, he conducted five in-depth investigations in Changting.

Ma Xuemei, 61, recalled at a symposium on Thursday that, inspired by Xi's attention to Changting and official incentives to reclaim barren hills, she decided to contract a 10.5-hectare plot of barren land to plant trees and grass, as well as improve the soil quality.

Her journey was not without struggles. Spring rains in 2000 swept away the first batch of tree seedlings she planted. With technical support from county experts and an unyielding resolve, Ma implemented measures to stabilize the soil, planting ground cover crops and improving the land with organic fertilizers.

"To me, this barren hill was like a child who needed care. Letting go was never an option."

Today, her once-barren hills are home to 28.53 hectares of chestnut trees, 7,000 citrus trees and a thriving integrated farming business that employs over 10 local families.

Officials and analysts have highlighted the transformation of Changting as a living embodiment of Xi's vision that considers "lucid waters and lush mountains as invaluable assets".

Ye Min, head of the Fujian Provincial Department of Water Resources, said Xi, by personally spearheading the effort to combat soil erosion in Changting, has initiated a series of transformative practices that ignited a province-wide campaign to address the pressing issue of water erosion.

He explained that technologies such as satellite remote sensing and drones have now been employed to monitor human-induced soil erosion across vast areas, ensuring comprehensive oversight beyond the reach of manual efforts.

Lan Siren, president of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, said the historic breakthrough in Changting's soil erosion control lies in the focus on systematic and precise erosion management, as well as leveraging ecological advantages to drive industrial development. These efforts have collectively contributed to a healthier ecosystem and improved the well-being of local residents, he said.

According to Lan, Changting's soil and water conservation rate has increased from 76.18 percent in 1999 to 93.56 percent last year, with rural residents' income rising from 2,431 yuan in 1999 to 23,852 yuan in 2023.

The successful experiences of Changting's soil erosion control have now been applied in other areas, he said, emphasizing that greater attention should be given to technology and talent to further empower green development in the future.

Cui Peng, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Changting's soil erosion control has provided a Chinese solution for soil and water conservation and ecological security, becoming a model for global ecological restoration.

He praised Changting for its focus on reform and innovation, becoming the first in the province to deepen forest land rights reform and establish a coordinated mechanism for ecological protection and restoration, saying such actions are worth of being replicated on a national scale.

Deng Jiahui in Changting contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at [email protected]