Zhang Lu (L) introduces a coffee cup with finless porpoise elements on it to a South African tourist who lives and works in Nantong at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent.
The Langshan national forest park was approved to be established in the mountain area along the Yangtze River in 2018. A group of ordinary people are now engaged in the ecological conservation of this forest park and the Yangtze River.
Wu Rong came to work at the Langshan mountain scenic spot area in 2014 and she has been engaged in greening maintenance of the mountain area and the area along the Yangtze River since 2021. At present, some 200 greening workers like Wu Rong tend to this forest part every day.
Fei Changzhong, once a fisherman along the Yangtze River in Nantong, has withdrawn from fishing and became an environmental volunteer along the river. He initiated the establishment of a volunteer team among fishermen withdrawing from fishing for environmental protection along the Yangtze River in 2022. Every day, he patrols along the river for protection and cleanup. He has so far collected and removed over 700 tonnes of garbage from the Yangtze River. "As long as everyone keeps their promise to the Yangtze River, it will become more beautiful," Fei said.
Zhang Lu, a manager of the Junshan mountain operation center, took part with her team in the building of an exhibition hall of the Yangtze River protection at the Langshan national forest park, which was established in 2026. The exhibition hall so far has received more than 35,000 tourists to learn about the green development of the Nantong section of the Yangtze River.
"Spreading the concept and achievements of the Yangtze River protection to more people is to better protect it," Zhang said. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Wu Rong (R) and a worker check the reinforcement of a tree at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 9, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
A drone photo taken on July 10, 2026 shows a view of the Langshan national forest park and the Nantong City skyline, in east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
A drone photo taken on July 16, 2026 shows Fei Changzhong (R) and his team cleaning up floating objects in the waters of the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
Zhang Lu (C) and her colleagues deliberate on a project plan on the top of the Junshan mountain at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent.(Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
A drone photo taken on July 16, 2026 shows Fei Changzhong inspecting the condition of the Yangtze River embankment in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent.(Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on July 9, 2026 shows Wu Rong (R) and a colleague checking the growth of flowers at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
Zhang Lu (R) and her colleague checks the Junshan mountain ecological reserve at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhang Lu (1st R) introduces to the tourists the changes before and after the ecological restoration at the mountain area and the area along the Yangtze River at an exhibition hall of the Yangtze River protection in the Langshan national forest park, in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhang Lu (R) introduces the achievements of the Yangtze River protection to a South African tourist who lives and works in Nantong at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Wu Rong (R) instructs a worker to maintain an ancient tree at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 9, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Zhang Lu (R) explains to her colleagues the correct way to place life-saving supplies while patrolling the riverbank at the Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 10, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent.(Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
A drone photo taken on July 16, 2026 shows Fei Changzhong (R) and his team taking a boat to check a real-time acoustic monitoring system of Yangtze finless porpoise at the waters of Langshan national forest park in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent.(Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2026 shows a view of the Langshan national forest park at sunrise in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2026 shows a view of the Langshan national forest park at sunrise Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
Fei Changzhong picks up garbage on the bank of the Yangtze River in Chongchuan District of Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 17, 2026. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
A drone photo taken on July 13, 2026 shows a view of the Langshan national forest park at sunrise in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Nantong City has fully implemented the ecological restoration of the mountain area along the Yangtze River since 2016, with the new added forest area exceeding six square kilometers and a forest coverage rate of more than 80 percent. (Photo by Xu Congjun/Xinhua)
