Mountains rise in layered green, and the Xiangjiang River bears celestial grace. All creatures blend in harmony, and all life perpetuates endlessly.

Look, finless porpoises dart and chase in the vast Dongting Lake, and Baer's Pochards slice through ripples in Yanghu Wetland. Listen, milu deer bleat in unison across the marshlands, and white storks trill with crisp, graceful chirps in Longwan Wetland.

Hunan has been actively fulfilling its ecological mission, safeguarding all creatures with concrete actions. In recent years, Hunan has advanced work on multiple fronts including wetland restoration, shoreline upgrading, woodland conservation and targeted wildlife rescue, consolidating the foundation for biodiversity protection in an all-round manner. Once rarely seen creatures make a comeback, making rare populations steadily recover and expand. An ecological scroll of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is unfurling across the land south of Dongting Lake.

On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity this year, the Changsha Evening News, together with Hengyang Daily, Shaoyang Daily, Yueyang Daily, Yiyang Daily, Chenzhou Daily, Yongzhou Media, Huaihua Daily, and Loudi Daily, jointly launched a multimedia special report—Return of National Treasures. Through the "stories" told by nine representative rare species about their habitat changes and the warm safeguard for them, the report panoramically presents Hunan's fruitful achievements in biodiversity conservation, vividly showcasing the ecological and natural beauty across the land of Hunan.

As waters warm, ducks find their home in Changsha

National Treasure: Baer's Pochard

Habitat: Yanghu National Wetland Park, Changsha

I'm a Baer's Pochard, a national Class I state-protected wildlife listed as a critically endangered species. We wear dark-brown feathered coats. The males' heads and necks gleam with a dark-green metallic gloss and the white of their eyes are bright, while the females' heads featuring unique chestnut markings. We can fly swiftly and are adept at diving for food, making both skies and lakes our natural homes.

I breed in the northeast and winter in the south, never imagining I would form an inseparable bond with Changsha. In the late autumn of 2024, during my migration, I passed through the Yanghu National Wetland Park in Changsha. The clear, turquoise water and lush reed beds attracted me. I tried to stay and found that this place was no longer the barren landscape it used to be.

Since then, I settle down at Yanghu Wetland for several months during every migration, frolicking amid clear ripples and taking shelter among the reeds. Here, I glide over the lake alongside flocks of little egrets and watch kingfishers trace agile arcs through the air. Underwater, Chinese rose bitterling and other fish swim among the aquatic plants, together forming a vivid tableau of biodiversity.

This ecological gift is inseparable from Changsha's devoted guard. The city has designated an ecological protection red line of no less than 783.82 square kilometers, establishing an ecological security pattern of "one main river, six tributaries, two ecological screens on east and west, a core wetland in the south and an embankment in the north." Changsha has promoted watershed management through multiple measures, creating an "underwater forest" and steadily improving water quality. From establishing natural reserves and ecological corridors, to restoring wetlands and developing long-term management and protection mechanisms, Changsha is guarding its land with concrete actions and embracing all lives with tender care.

When clear waters mirror my contour and every wingbeat drives me toward an ideal habitat, my story with Changsha will continue.

New buds on velvet pod honey locust evergreen on Hengshan Mountain

National Treasure: Velvet Pod Honey Locust (Gleditsia japonica var. velutina)

Habitat: Nanyue Hengshan Mountain Scenic Area, Hengyang

I quietly took root amid the peaks and gully of Mount Hengshan. I am Gleditsia japonica var. velutina, also named velvet pod honey locust. I'm a Class I nationally protected wild plant and a critically endangered species, thereby known as the "giant panda of the plant world." In late spring and early summer, small yellow-green flowers adorn my branches. In winter, twisted pods hang from the tips, covered in brownish fuzz.

I prefer high-altitude, moist valleys near water. Natural reproduction is very difficult for my species. Over 100 million years ago, the warm climate on the Earth was suitable for our growth. As the Quaternary Ice Age began, my companions perished one after another, leaving us in a secluded corner around Guangji Temple on Hengshan Mountain.

To save the only 10 wild mature individuals found globally, the scientific research team on Hengshan Mountain has continuously tackled challenges, establishing a germplasm resource bank and overcoming seedling breeding difficulties. Through a comprehensive propagation system combining sowing, grafting, and cutting, our population has been rejuvenated.

Surprises have kept emerging in recent years. Naturally regenerated seedlings broke through the soil one after another, with eight new ones appearing last year. Artificially bred saplings grow vigorously, with the tallest achieving an annual growth of 1.42 meters. On the National Tree Planting Day this year, over 1,000 artificially bred saplings took root in fertile soil on the mountain.

Thanks to the gifts of this landscape, I have witnessed the arrival of new companions. Rare species such as Boulenophrys gutu and Amana nanyueensis have made their appearances, adding vibrant life to Mount Hengshan.

The city I live in not only actively implements special rescue and protection projects for rare and endangered wildlife, but also strengthens habitat and natural forest management, and carries out biodiversity awareness campaigns at key occasions, leading to continuous improvement of the regional ecological environment. Under this careful guardianship, I continue to write a legend of life that spans over 100 million years.

Crested Ibises Flutter over Danxia Landform

National Treasure: Crested Ibis

Habitat: Langshan Mountain in the Nanshan National Park, Shaoyang

With pure white feathers and a vermilion crest, I've thus gained a poetic name: Crested Ibis. I am a Class I nationally protected wild animal. When I spread my wings in the sky light and graceful, I've earned names like "Oriental Gem" and "Bird of Good Fortune."

Historical records show that Crested Ibises once inhabited Hunan. But by the early 20th century, due to ecological changes and shifts in farming practices, I had vanished from this land.

Three years ago, under the "Bringing Ibises Back to Hunan" initiative, 24 Crested Ibises migrated south from Hanzhong in Shaanxi and Xinyang in Henan. They were released into the wild in Langshan Mountain in Shaoyang, Hunan, where our ancestors once lived. The rolling Danxia landforms, interspersed wetlands, and mild, humid climate here instantly captured our hearts.

This sense of security does not come by chance. From the top-level planning for building a city-wide forest city, to reinforcing the ecological barrier through forest tending and wetland restoration, and to a monitoring system that carefully protects rare species, Shaoyang has put its systematic biodiversity protection measures into vivid practices such as "One-tenth of the paddy field reserved for crested ibis" and "Fish-Rice Coexistence." Since then, farmlands and nature have thrived together, and I have become deeply bonded to this land.

In just three years, local experts have tailored artificial breeding and domestication techniques for us, and established a reconstruction and cultivation system for wild populations. We have settled down and multiplied here. Our population has grown to 35, becoming the world's most stable wild crested Ibis population with natural breeding potential at the lowest latitude.

Now in Langshan, little egrets share the habitat with me, and fish swim in the clear waters. "Crested Ibis" has become a golden brand for eco-agricultural products, and villages are more vibrant thanks to bird-watching tourism. People, birds, fields, and forests coexist in interdependence, painting a vibrant ecological picture.

Yangtze Finless Porpoises Smile in Ripples

National Treasure: Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Habitat: Yueyang Section of the Yangtze River, Dongting Lake Area

I have a plump body and skin as sleek as satin. I love rolling and frolicking amid clear waves. Because my mouth naturally curves upward, I have a gentle nickname — "Smiling Angel." I am the Yangtze finless porpoise, a Class I nationally protected wild animal and a critically endangered species, and a "barometer" of the Yangtze River's ecological health.

Once, my family struggled to survive in the Yangtze River, rarely seen by people. Today, I am pleasantly surprised to witness ever clearer waters, growing fish stocks and calmer lake surfaces. We swim at ease and live in peace in Dongting Lake.

This ease and peaceful life cannot be realized without the city's devoted protection. Since 2017, Yueyang has carried out special remediation along the Yangtze River shoreline. It has strengthened the ecological foundation through fishing bans to protect life and pollution control to clean up water; delineated ecological red lines and promoted river-lake connectivity, and restored sandbar wetlands; established a provincial-level nature reserve for finless porpoises with 24-hour patrols and monitoring; and, implemented a "ten-year fishing ban," allowing the rivers and lakes to recuperate.

From removing illegal enclosures and restoring shorelines, to reviving the natural population of Yangtze finless porpoise and establishing a provincial-level ex-situ nature reserve, Yueyang has fulfilled its solemn commitment to the "Great Protection of the Yangtze River" in in every splash we make while frolicking in the water.

Today, the Yangtze finless porpoise population in DongtingLake has increased to 194, making this area the most significant hotspot for population growth of this species across the entire Yangtze River basin. I often chase passing boats joyfully, frolicking in waves. Sometimes I leap out of the water to spout a silvery spray, catching the surprised gazes from visitors onboard.

In the vast, misty waters of DongtingLake, I splash and play freely. A moving panorama depicting harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature gently unfurls amidst the misty, rippling waves.

Milu deer call softly and low by Dongting Lake

National Treasure: Milu Deer

Habitat: South Dongting Lake Nature Reserve, Yiyang

My name is Milu deer, a Class I nationally protected wild animal. Known for my deer-like antlers, horse-like face, ox-like hooves, and donkey-like tail, I'm also called "the Four Unlikes." The line "Milu deer call softly and low, browsing the wild wormwood" from The Book of Songs depicts us more than 2,600 years ago. Today, this scene has been recreated in the South Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in Yiyang.

We were once widely distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow River basins, but vanished over a century ago. In 1985, the country reintroduced us from abroad, launching a journey of population recovery. Today in Hunan, the East Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in Yueyang and the South Dongting Lake Nature Reserve in Yiyang are our primary homes.

I remember when we first arrived at South Dongting Lake 30 years ago, we had to move around the lake plains due to seasonal floods. The local people showed us great kindness: they built elevated refuge platforms, set up monitoring stations, and conducted dedicated patrols. During the flood seasons, they provided feed to us. In recent years, they have made various efforts to ensure ideal habitat conditions for us, such as returning fishing areas to wetlands, restoring sandbars, and implementing micro-terrain modifications.

We settled down in peace, and our population has continuously grown. This spring, over 20 of our kind gathered in the Luhu area of South Dongting Lake, marking the largest gathering in this home. Now, the Milu deer family in South Dongting Lake stands steadily at around 170. Our companions are strong and agile, running and playing on the mudflats, letting out loud and clear calls.

Committed to biodiversity conservation, Yiyang has established an air-space-ground integrated smart supervision platform and rolled out coordinated governance under the Three Chiefs System — Lake Chief, Field Chief, and Forest Chief. All these efforts have made the land more habitable. Clear waters, green banks, and thriving fish and birds serve as a vivid testament to the city's adherence to ecological priorities.

In graceful Mangshan Mountain, musk deer dwell deep in woods

National Treasure: Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii)

Habitat: Mangshan Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chenzhou

I am a forest musk deer, a "parkour expert" in mountains and deep forests. I am a Class I nationally protected wild animal. My small body is clad in a grayish-brown fur coat. The males of our kind possess well-developed musk glands that secrete musk. Excelling at climbing and jumping, I highly rely on pristine forest environments as a typical mountain forest-dwelling mammal.

Infrared cameras in Mangshan Mountain first captured me in 2020. To date, I have been caught on camera three times — moving agilely through thick brush, nibbling on tender leaves and branches, or pausing to sniff the surrounding plants, looking completely at ease.

I am naturally vigilant and enjoy wandering through lush mountain forests. I have made Mangshan Mountain my permanent home because I feel perfectly safe here. Local authorities have fully enforced the Forest Chief Scheme, dividing Mangshan Mountain into multiple grid-based management zones regularly patrolled by full-time staff. A comprehensive hunting ban has been implemented, and wildlife habitats are under rigorous protection. An integrated space-air-ground monitoring system has also been established. Thanks to sustained efforts on natural forest conservation and other initiatives, the forest coverage rate of Mangshan Mountain remains steady at 99.08%.

Here, I live alongside small Indian civets and spotted linsangs in the mountains, watching Cabot's tragopans spread their gorgeous plumage, hearing Macaca thibetanas howl from afar, and embracing the unspoiled beauty and peace of the wild.

My appearance before the camera is a vivid testament to the steady ecological improvement in Chenzhou. The city is committed to building a community of life consisting of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands. It has been intensifying watershed pollution control, advancing ecological restoration of abandoned mines and recovery of wildlife habitats, and steadily continued its campaigns to safeguard blue skies, clear waters and pollution-free land. As a result, the green mountains and clear waters have become a vibrant natural home where all creatures live in harmony.

Thousand-year-old ginkgo in Dong'an

National Treasure: 2500-Year-Old "King of Ginkgo"

Habitat: Luohan Mountain, Dong'an, Yongzhou

I stand tall on Luohan Mountain in Simenmahuang Village, Nanqiao Town, Dong'an County, Yongzhou City, having guarded this land for over 2,500 years. Known as a "living fossil" in the plant kingdom and a Class I nationally protected ancient tree, I have witnessed the vicissitudes of time and still thrive with lush foliage, brimming with eternal vitality.

I unfurl my fan-shaped emerald leaves, like a towering green canopy in spring and summer and a cloak of gleaming gold in autumn. Records show I was planted back in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (770 BC – 221 BC). Standing around 20 meters tall, with a trunk so wide that ten people linking arms could barely encircle it. I am hailed as Hunan's Ginkgo King and ranked among China's Top 10 Most Beautiful Ancient Ginkgo Trees.

Across a thousand years of wind and rain, I have endured countless hardships. I once stood as tall as 60 meters. During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties (around the 17th century), a lightning strike snapped my trunk in two, leaving deep scars that reached to my very roots. Over the years, wind and rain carved a massive hollow in my trunk. Yet, thanks to the meticulous care of local authorities and villagers, I have tenaciously revived and regained vibrant life.

Yongzhou City and Dong'an County have designated me a key protected tree. They reinforced my trunk, and built guardrails and boardwalks around me. When a pest infestation broke out in 2025, they used drones to spray pesticide precisely to keep me safe. The village has also rolled out its own regulations, cherishing me as a shared treasure.

I yield nearly 1,000 kilograms of ginkgo nuts every year. In autumn, the villagers gather on an auspicious day to harvest the nuts together, celebrating as if at a festival. Today, my reputation has made local rural tourism and farm homestays thrive. I stand as a testament to ecological prosperity and rural wellbeing.

From safeguarding the clear waters at the source of the Xiangjiang River, to enacting bird-protection laws for the "Thousand-year-old Bird Migration Corridor," and to implementing targeted protection for ancient trees under the "one tree, one policy" initiative, Yongzhou has shown enduring commitment to ecological conservation. I will stay rooted here, spreading my golden canopy to shelter every passer-by.

Scaly-sided mergansers ride the waves in Huaihua—a Land of Five Streams

National Treasure: Scaly-sided Merganser

Habitat: Wetland Parks along the Yuanshui and Qujiang River Basins, Huaihua

Puff puff puff... Gliding through the morning mist over the Yuanshui River and diving into the clear currents of the Wushui River, I dance across the water, sending out shimmering ripples.

I am a scaly-sided merganser, hailed as a "living fossil among birds." Clad in glossy black-green scaled plumage, I have a long, sword-like vivid red beak. I excel at diving through waves and soaring through the sky. As a Class I nationally protected wild animal, I have extremely high demands for my habitat.

I still recall fourteen years ago, my flock and I stopped by Wuqiangxi Wetland Park in Yuanling, Huaihua during our migration. Captivated by the rippling blue waters and dense woods, we chose this place as our winter refuge.

Since then, local authorities have stepped up conservation efforts. They have drawn ecological protection redlines, enforced fishing moratoriums, restored riverbanks and treated wastewater. Water quality across the area has kept improving, forging a solid ecological shield for harmonious coexistence between humans and birds.

What delights us is that in recent years, more members of my flock have taken up residence in wetland parks along waterways including Yudai River in Tongdao, Qingjiang Lake in Hongjiang and Jinjiang River in Mayang. These places have become our new winter refuges.

Each migration season, we return right on time. We glide across the Yuanshui River and forage along the Qujiang River, watching fish dart through clear shallows and listening to birds singing in harmony.

This secure haven owes its existence to Huaihua's long-term commitment to ecological conservation. With a forest coverage rate of 67.59%, the city is among China's first batch of national pilot cities for realizing ecological product value—the sole one in Hunan Province.

Gazing at the crystal-clear river waters and lush riverbanks, I am increasingly convinced that this "Land of Five Streams" will welcome more scaly-sided mergansers to thrive, breed and flourish.

Oriental storks return to nest

National Treasure: Oriental Stork

Habitat: Longwan National Wetland Park, Xinhua County, Loudi

Pure white all over with jet-black wingtips, I have long, graceful scarlet legs. I am an oriental stork, a Class I nationally protected wild animal.

I am highly selective about my habitats, favoring only well-preserved wetlands with clean water, ample food and serene surroundings. Years ago, when I flew over Longwan Wetland in Xinhua County, I found shrinking waters, degraded tidal flats and murky water. I had no choice but to take a detour.

These positive changes stem from a wetland ecological restoration initiative launched by forestry authorities of Loudi City and Xinhua County. Local authorities have carried out farmland-to-wetland conversion, removed unauthorized dikes to unblock water circulation, and built artificial wetland purification facilities to cut water pollution. Native aquatic plants were replanted to restore ecological communities on mudflats. Meanwhile, the Forest Chief and River Chief schemes have been fully enforced. Full-time patrol teams have been set up alongside a three-level grid-based inspection system, forming a solid line of defense for ecological security.

Longwan Wetland has taken on a new look. Here, limpid waters glisten with ripples, shoals of fish and shrimp swim freely, and dense reeds and swaying calamus line the banks, creating a home where hundreds of plants and animals live in perfect harmony.

When I flew over the wetland once more in 2023, I was instantly captivated by its pristine ecosystem. I have returned faithfully each year ever since. Earlier this spring, I came back with my flock to breed. We forage, play and soar gracefully over the clear waters and shallows.

Today, Loudi serves as a vital migration corridor and stopover for migratory birds. It has also drawn numerous Class I nationally protected wild animals, including the glossy ibis, Reeves's pheasant and Hume's Pheasant, to settle and multiply here. Our commitment to ecological conservation has granted all creatures a safe and peaceful home.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Forestry Department of Hunan Province