Yangtze River Stories(4) Chishui River: China’s model of ecological civilization

As the only undammed tributary of the upper Yangtze River, the Chishui River is famed for its cultural significance related to the Red Army, and homes some of the country’s most famed liquor brands. The ecological practices along the Chishui River are serving as a model of China’s advancing ecological civilization.

Known as the "River of Intoxicating Liquors,” it is the water source of several famous Chinese white spirit brands along its banks, including the world’s most valuable liquor maker-Kweichow #Moutai.

As the locals say, good wine is brewed where there is good water. Bacterial and archaeal diversities in Maotai county section of the Chishui River and the grain cultivated with the river water are believed the major contributors to the unique flavor of Moutai.

“The river is Moutai’s life,” said Li Baofang, chairman and general manager of Moutai Group. “The liquor would not have existed without the healthy ecosystem along the Chishui River.” he added.

In an effort to protect the ecosystem along the river, the company has invested 468 million yuan to build five sewage-processing plants with an annual capacity of over two million tons.

The Chishui River is also the site for major historical events and hero stories related to the Red Army. During the Long March, the Red Army crossed the Chishui River four times to successfully maneuver through a Kuomintang blockade. Today, visitors can still relive this part of history at a memorial museum in the city of Chishui in southwest China’s Guizhou.

Besides historical sites, Chishui is also renowned for its natural beauty of the karst landscapes, numerous waterfalls, and rich bamboo resources.

With 2.24 million mu of forest area, the forest coverage of Chishui city has reached 82.85%, forming an important green ecological barrier on the upper reach of the Yangtze River.

The city’s investment has now paid off. In 2017, the city welcomed over 16.3 million visitors, contributing to 18.5 billion yuan in revenue. The same year, it became the first county-level city in Guizhou to be removed from China's poverty list.

“Good ecosystem is the most valuable resources of Chishui,” said Ren Qixin, a deputy director of the Bureau of the National Development and Reform of Chishui city. Since 1990, the city has made great efforts to develop eco-friendly agriculture, industry, and tourism.

Ecological economy took up 75% of city’s entire economy for the past two consecutive years, according to Ren.

In addition to company- and city-level of protection of the Chishui River, the river also enjoys the first cross-provincial ecological protection and compensation system as a pioneering way of the ecological protection and restoration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Since 2013, the three provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan, which the river traverses, have jointly conducted regulating, monitoring and emergency responding measures along the Chishui River.

Earlier this year, the three provinces signed an agreement to jointly invest 200 million yuan in a ratio of 5:1:4 for a ecological compensation fund for the Chishui River Basin, and each will receive funding at another ratio of 3:4:3.

“The river flows through three provinces, protection cannot be achieved without joint efforts,” said Sun Zhongfa, deputy director of the Guizhou Provincial Environmental Supervision and Inspection Office.