Tourists visit the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Jixian county, Shanxi province, on Aug 8. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY

In mid-September, the Maqu wetlands in Gansu province are a picturesque scene of lush grasslands stretching toward the horizon like a green carpet, with rivers and waterways shimmering under the late summer sunshine.

A bridge spanning the Yellow River connects Qinghai province, where the river originates in the west, with the Maqu wetlands in the east.

The Yellow River winds its way through Maqu county for 433 kilometers, with over 300 of its tributaries flowing through vast grasslands and wetlands.

These waterways replenish the Yellow River with nearly 10 billion cubic meters of water annually, making it a crucial water source conservation area in the upper reaches of the river.

Ma Jianyun, the chief engineer of the forestry technology comprehensive service station at the county's natural resources bureau, points at photos taken before and after to show the success of restoration efforts in recent years. "Look at how the barren riverbanks have turned lush and green. The effects of desertification control are evident," he said.

President Xi Jinping stressed improvement in conservation efforts of the river basin and its high-quality development when he chaired a symposium in Lanzhou, Gansu's capital, on Sept 12.

Xi underlined the need to promote new progress in ecological protection across the basin, green transformation, high-quality development, and improvement in the people's livelihood.

Revered as China's "Mother River" and a cradle of civilization, the Yellow River flows through nine provinces and autonomous regions, and impacts the lives of 420 million people.

Despite facing challenges such as frequent flooding, efforts are already underway to strengthen the protection and development of this key waterway.

In October 2021, China released a comprehensive outline for the protection and development of the Yellow River Basin, aiming to guide policy formulation and engineering projects to address the basin's unique challenges.

The implementation of the national Yellow River Protection Law in April last year, along with provincial regulations tailored to local conditions, further enhances governance and protection of the river.

"The ecological protection and high-quality development strategy in the Yellow River Basin, as well as policies and regulations such as the Yellow River Protection Law, have provided us with a foundation for our work," said Chen Xiaowei, director of the Yellow River channel management station in Lanzhou.

Chen and his team not only patrol the river to monitor ecological challenges, but also disseminate policies and regulations to the public to enhance people's awareness about environmental protection.

"Today, the banks of the Yellow River in Lanzhou are shaded by lush trees, and filled with the fragrance of flowers, attracting a continuous flow of residents and tourists," said Chen.