At the Guanting Reservoir National Wetland Park in Huailai County, Hebei Province, a group of elementary school students sit around and focus on every frame of the documentary. Their focus is a thirst for knowledge, a search for history, and a vision for the future. What they are learning is the story of the Guanting Reservoir, a chapter about the development of water conservancy in New China.
In May 1954, the Guanting Reservoir was completed and put into use, becoming the first large-scale reservoir built after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Its completion is not only a major engineering achievement, but also a milestone in the development of China's water conservancy industry. It brings together thousands of workers from all over the country who sweat and build the miracle of this water conservancy project with their hands. The completion of the Guanting Reservoir not only effectively controlled the flooding of the Yongding River, but also provided valuable electricity and water sources for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
However, as time went on, the Guanting Reservoir faced new challenges. Since the 80s of the 20th century, with the rapid development of industrialization, the pollution problem in the upper reaches of the reservoir has become increasingly serious, and the water quality has begun to deteriorate. By 1997, the Guanting Reservoir had to be withdrawn from the capital's drinking water source system, which was a severe blow to the reservoir and its surrounding communities.
However, this is not the end of the story. Over the next few decades, through unremitting efforts and a series of remediation projects, the water quality of the Guanting Reservoir has been significantly improved. Today, the Guanting Reservoir has not only restored its ecological beauty, but has also become an important backup water source for Beijing. It has gone from being a memory of an era to a model of ecological restoration, showing the possibility of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
The story of the Guanting Reservoir is a story of challenge, change and hope. It teaches us that no matter how difficult it is, with determination and perseverance, we can find a solution to the problem. It also reminds us that to protect the environment is to protect ourselves, and that only by respecting nature can we ensure a sustainable future for us and future generations.
Nowadays, when people stand by the reservoir and look at the clear water, what they see is not only a reservoir, but a historical witness, a miracle of ecological restoration, and an allegory about the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The Guanting Reservoir is like a sapphire inlaid in the land of Huailai County, shining with the light of the past and illuminating the road of the future.