On fine winter mornings, bird watchers world gather at the Yilong Lake in south Yunnan Shiping County, meeting the wintering seagulls and offering them food.

ilong is our mother lake, and I obliged to keep it tidy and clean,” said Zhou Guanhong, chief of the Yilong Lake appointed by local villagers’ committee.

Thanks to the implementing of the lake and river chief system, the Yilong Lake has seen improved water quality and vegetation coverage in the surrounding areas. Now visitors are impressed by lucid waters in the lake, as well as lush woods and flower fields nearby.

With four tiers of persons in charge, the lake and river chief system has been in implementation since July 2017 in south Yunnan Honghe Prefecture, where Shiping County lies.

Besides the Yilong Lake, the Dianxi River in Mile and the Phoenix Lake and Lujiang River in Kuaiyun, also present similar eco-beauty in south Yunnan.