Chongqing - Due to a heatwave in Chongqing and inverse dryness in the flood season, the Tuerping Wetland and large parts of the riverbeds on Guangyang Isle have been exposed above water. As schools of fish swam along the clear green river, several reefs sprang up from the water at the head of the West Island.  

The reefs distributed in a row at the head of the West Island surfaced from the water. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Guangyang Isle is situated where canyons and broad valleys intersect in the Yangtze River. As the Yangtze River flows through the Tongluo Gorge, it widens, creating a branching channel at Guangyang Isle. The reefs at the head of the west island block the rapids and create a large slow-flowing area in Tuerping, which provides a natural habitat for fish.

The fish swim along the clear green river. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

"It is common to see bighead carps and silver carps gathering near shore after the ten-year fishing ban was implemented on the Yangtze River," said an expert from the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ecological Waterways.

A vital distribution area for Chinese endemic fish and commercial fish, the waters surrounding Guangyang Isle have been a paradise for fish since ancient times. Bait grounds, spawning grounds, and overwintering grounds are all found there.

Guangyang Island is a paradise for fish. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

In recent years, Guangyang Isle has been actively exploring nature-based solutions for ecological restoration, combining fish habits and spawning characteristics.

Moreover, the biodiverse nature of Guangyang Isle is intertwined with the conservation and construction of "fish farm" habitats, "birds' farm" habitats, and "grazing land." A total of 594 plant species and 452 animal species have been recorded so far.

(Chen Lu, as an intern, also contributed to the report.)