Kathmandu— Beijing's Liangma River, once a neglected waterway, now bustles with stand-up paddle boards on summer weekends, mirroring a broader transformation across China where ecological restoration efforts are creating greener spaces and reshaping leisure habits for urban residents. Years of systematic upgrading to waterways like the Liangma – including water purification, ecological restoration, and urban regeneration – have delivered cleaner environments and richer wildlife habitats within easy reach of citizens. This environmental healing is fostering new pastimes such as riverside camping and urban birdwatching, reflecting a shift from traditional scenic spots to more immersive outdoor experiences.

Riverside Revival

The Liangma River’s transformation exemplifies the national trend; since 2019, municipal authorities have integrated water purification with ecological restoration and urban regeneration. This involved dredging the riverbed, refurbishing bridges, optimizing pedestrian networks, and upgrading landscaping, resulting in riverside greenways open day and night and renovated bridges spanning the waterway. Outdoor enthusiast Liu Yiming noted that leisure travel is evolving from established scenic spots to more distinctive and immersive experiences.

Booming Outdoor Pursuits

Camping has emerged as a particularly popular pastime, with China building 2,055 dedicated camping sites by the end of 2024. The industry is projected to reach 291.95 billion yuan (about 43 billion U.S. dollars) by 2026, signaling its widespread adoption. Pan Rongfeng, a middle school teacher, shared that more and more people around him are seeking escapes from urban life through camping whenever the weather permits. This enthusiasm is also reflected in the growth of birdwatching, with Shanghai declaring itself a “city of a thousand parks” boasting 1,013 green spaces and recording 215 bird species at Century Park alone.

Growing Environmental Awareness

China’s ecological gains are translating into increased public satisfaction; official data shows that 91.37 percent of Chinese people were satisfied with the ecological environment in 2025, marking five consecutive years above 90 percent. This restored landscape is fostering a deeper environmental consciousness among those who participate in outdoor activities. Groups like Snail Outdoor in Sichuan Province combine hiking with litter collection, aiming to promote caring for the environment and greener habits. A survey by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Center found that 85.1 percent of young people believe green and low-carbon concepts are increasingly integrated into their daily routines.

National Plan for a ‘Beautiful China’

The government is actively supporting this shift, issuing a national plan in June to build a “Beautiful China” with binding environmental targets through 2030. The plan focuses on maintaining clean air and water, improving ecosystems, addressing climate change, and promoting green production and lifestyles. Ma Xiangming, a director of the Urban Planning Society of China, emphasized that building a Beautiful China is central to modernization and fulfilling people’s aspirations for a better life, prioritizing ecological beauty as an equitable public welfare.

The ongoing efforts to improve China's environment are expected to continue driving both ecological restoration and a shift towards more sustainable lifestyles among its citizens.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.