HOW TIDES OF CHANGE TRANSFORMED YUNDANG LAKE

Good governance, environmental innovations rejuvenate formerly polluted area

Zuo Lihua, 80, recalled the grim conditions of polluted lakefronts in the coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province, four decades ago, when chickens, ducks and pigs freely roamed crowded streets.

In the early 1980s, Yundang Lake was one of the worst — a body of water spoiled by sewage, garbage and pest infestations. The putrid conditions were in stark contrast to the vibrant community that now flourishes around the lake's rejuvenated environment.

The lake, once part of bustling Yundang Port, has since been cleaned up to become a thriving urban haven thanks to a succession of measures taken by researchers and local authorities.