Xiamen’s Yundang Lake: A Model of Urban Waterway Rehabilitation

Once plagued by foul odors and blackened waters, Yundang Lake in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past four decades, evolving from a heavily polluted inner bay into a vibrant urban ecological landmark.

 Situated at the heart of Xiamen Island, Yundang Lake was originally a tidal estuary connected to the sea. In the 1970s, in a bid to control flooding and reclaim land, the city enclosed the lake with a causeway. However, this move had unintended consequences. Cut off from natural tidal flows, the lake became stagnant and was soon overwhelmed by industrial waste, domestic sewage, and aquaculture runoff. By the 1980s, Yundang Lake had earned the ignominious nickname “Xiamen’s stinky ditch,” with residents keeping their windows tightly shut to block out the foul smell.

Recognizing the severity of the problem, the Xiamen government launched an ambitious lake remediation project in 1980s, making it one of the first large-scale urban ecological restoration efforts in China. The approach was holistic, combining engineering, environmental science, and long-term policy design. At the core of the plan was the concept of “Governing the lake in accordance with the law, intercepting and treating sewage, dredging and building banks, activating the water body, and beautifying the environment.”

At the same time, industrial facilities along the lake were relocated or upgraded to meet stricter pollution standards. Dozens of sewage outlets were shut down, and a new urban wastewater treatment network was constructed to redirect and treat sewage before discharge.

Over the years, continued investment has led to major achievements. Xiamen has removed 5.6 million cubic meters of sediment from the lake, expanded its water surface by 700,000 square meters, and implemented a 14-kilometer ecological slope protection project along the shoreline. The once-neglected banks have been transformed into a 27-kilometer network of tree-lined trails.

Equally significant has been the emphasis on long-term environmental governance. The Xiamen municipal government established a multi-departmental coordination mechanism to oversee the lake’s health, involving urban planning, environmental protection, water resources, and community stakeholders. A public information system, along with regular water quality monitoring, ensures transparency and accountability.

Today, the transformation of Yundang Lake is often referred to as the “Xiamen Model” — a successful case of balancing ecological restoration with urban development. In 2023, Yundang Lake was named in the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s second list of “Beautiful Rivers and Lakes” exemplary sites.

For Xiamen residents, the transformation of Yundang Lake has brought tangible improvements in the quality of life.  "Xiamne now is truly a livable city with lush greenery, excellent air quality as well as clean water," said Wang Shuai, a local college student.

As China continues to prioritize ecological civilization, the story of Yundang Lake offers valuable lessons in how science, policy, and public engagement can come together to create a better ecosystem.

图片来源于网络

文字｜胡魏 田丰玮

排版｜田丰玮