River Revived Through Bold Conservation Efforts

In Zunyi, Guizhou province, China, the Chishui River — the only major Yangtze tributary with no dam along its main course — is flowing freely again after years of dedicated restoration. Fish are returning, water quality is improving, and communities are seeing nature rebound.

In one section alone, 88 small hydropower stations have been dismantled, restoring natural flows across 163 kilometres of river.

Since 2017, authorities have invested 200 million yuan ($28 million) in the campaign, combining a 10-year fishing moratorium with strict wastewater treatment for the region’s baijiu distilleries. All 39 tributaries in key industrial townships have now reached healthy water standards, and fish biodiversity is thriving with 98 endemic species, up from 90 before 2016. Even the native Onychostoma sima — a small river carp found only in this region — has grown heavier by 263%. The Chishui’s comeback shows how determined conservation and smart policy can bring life back to an entire river system.