Enhanced protection

陈小将

Today, more than 70 percent of Anji is covered in forest, much of it bamboo. Once-overlooked villages are now home to pocket parks, hiking trails, open-air teahouses, and even artisanal coffee shops.

Zheng Xuli, a senior engineer at Lingfengsi Forest Farm, patrols 120 hectares of forest land. Once a logging supervisor, he now focuses on conservation — from monitoring of termite infestations to forest maintenance.

"In the past, forestry was about cutting and planting," Zheng said. "Now it's about watching, caring and minimizing harm."

The biggest shift, he said, has been philosophical: "We treat the forest as an asset that gains value over time — not something to consume."

Technology is also reshaping how Anji protects its environment. AI-powered drones and autonomous boats are now used to monitor rivers for illegal dumping and construction.

"Before, it took weeks to patrol all our waterways," said Ye Liang, director of the river chief office with Anji county's water resources bureau. "Now drones and AI can do it in a single day. Problems are caught early, before they escalate."

In 2022, Anji launched the Global Partnership Initiative, aimed at attracting digital nomads, green startups and remote workers to settle in the county.

To local officials' surprise, the initiative gained rapid momentum. By the end of 2024, more than 50,000 young people had come to Anji to start businesses or seek job opportunities.

Xu Liang, a cyclist and entrepreneur, said Anji's location near Yangtze River Delta cities and its clean environment are major draws for young professionals.

"For many young people, the countryside is more than a retreat," Xu said. "It's a place to explore new ideas, new directions and entrepreneurial opportunities beyond the city."

Javier Ghaemi, a British expatriate, arrived in Anji in April with his girlfriend after a friend in Shanghai told them about a gym for rent. Within hours, they had made the decision to move from Malaysia to the county.

They took over a dormant gym nestled in the hills and transformed it into a lifestyle hub offering yoga classes, wellness workshops and forest hikes.

From his gym, perched above a bamboo grove, Ghaemi has found both peace and purpose.

"For me, I want to help build Anji up," he said. "To promote it, and to show Westerners the reality of life here. I think the misconceptions are huge. Even if I can just show a few friends, have them visit, do a workout — they'll see that we're all the same. We all have the same dreams."

Patrick Nijs, former Belgian ambassador to China, said that Xi demonstrated a clear vision when he proposed the philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" in 2005.

"Back then, most people were still debating what 'going green' even meant," Nijs said. "So he introduced this concept in a very clear and poetic way — something that resonates deeply with the Chinese mind."

Nijs now considers Anji one of his homes. "I'm a big fan of Xi Jinping because I think he is a visionary," he said.

What Anji offers, Nijs added, is a development model rooted in culture, continuity and care.

He pointed out that this philosophy has also underpinned China's sweeping investments in renewable energy. "China has invested in all facets of green energy — hydropower, solar panels, biomass, wind power and nuclear power — and is now a global leader."

Contact the writers at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn