Visit Jiangxi for Poyang Lake!

(Please view horizontally, the Dahuchi section of Yongwu Highway is hailed as the "most beautiful water highway," photographer @ Liao Hao)

(Comparison of Poyang Lake's surface area in January and July, "high water forms a lake, low water resembles a river"; typically, Poyang Lake's lowest water level occurs in January, and the highest in July or August, chart by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

It is also China's most "changeable" super lake.

Creating a uniquely favorable home for countless living beings.

Nurturing China's most thriving paradise for migratory birds.

As well as the safety of hundreds of millions of people in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

(Several white-headed cranes with white heads and necks and gray bodies mixed among a flock of gray cranes, photographed in Nanchang Xinjian District, photographer @ Liu Lu)

Over 100 million years of geological movements.

Caused the strata of eastern China's land to shift.

Gradually sinking into depressions of varying sizes.

Ultimately forming an area of approximately 11,000 square kilometers.

(Schematic map of the Poyang Lake Basin, chart by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Enclosing the basin from the east, south, and west.

(Please view horizontally, Lushan Mountain and Poyang Lake, image source @ Visual China)

(Jinxi Lake Delta, for illustrative purposes only, photographer @ Feng Guangliu (F.G.L))

Long-term fluctuations in the strata.

Through the "gap" in the north not enclosed by mountains.

(Please view horizontally, rural scenery of Makou Liao River in Yongxiu County, for illustrative purposes only, photographer @ Cheng Yingming)

From further north, a place more distant from the basin.

The river water began to flow backward into the Poyang Lake Basin.

(Meijiazhou in Jiujiang City, located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake; its formation was influenced by the combined action of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, beginning approximately 2,300 years ago. Image credit @ Visual China Group)

A narrow water body about 45 kilometers long from north to south

Its extent is close to the present-day North Poyang Lake

(Schematic of the Pengli Marsh during the Western Han Dynasty; before this, the main body of Pengli Marsh was north of Hukou, with some scholars referring to it as the Ancient Pengli Marsh. This article focuses on the formation process of water bodies within the Poyang Lake Basin and does not discuss the water morphology north of Hukou. Map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Influenced by climate fluctuations and undulating terrain

As recorded in the Southern Song Dynasty's "Yudi Jisheng"

"There is Mount Poyang in the lake, hence the name Poyang Lake."

"The lake stretches for hundreds of miles and is also called Pengli Lake."

The name of the great lake was officially changed to

(Zhuhu Lake, located in the southeastern corner of Poyang Lake; during the late Sui and early Tang Dynasties, the great lake expanded here. Later, due to the construction of embankments, it became one of the many inner lakes of Poyang Lake. Photographer @ Fu Ding)

Although its extent no longer changes significantly

The seasonal fluctuations in the lake's surface

(Schematic of the average monthly precipitation across various regions in Jiangxi Province. Map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

The Gan River, Fu River, Xin River, Rao River, and Xiu River

Covering an area of up to 162,200 square kilometers

(Poyang Lake and the watersheds of the five rivers. Map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Blocking or even reversing flow into Poyang Lake

(Below the image is the Yongwu Highway and the connected Wucheng Town. Photographer @ Cheng Yingming)

(Autumn in Poyang Lake, photographed in Duchang; when water levels drop and the lakebed is exposed, it becomes covered with hygrophytic plants. Photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

The water level of Poyang Lake drops by nearly ten meters compared to summer.

The lake surface area spans approximately 3,500 square kilometers

"Fragmented" into numerous small lakes scattered around

(Wetland landscape of Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve; Poyang Lake experiences significant annual water level fluctuations, and its water boundaries are complex, roughly divided into river-connected water bodies and national flood storage zones; the above area estimate is based on the average highest and lowest water levels recorded over years at the Xingzi Hydrological Station for river-connected water bodies; considering the entire lake, Poyang Lake's area can exceed 5,000 square kilometers at peak water levels, photographer @ Yu Ming)

(Luoxingdun, photographer @ Ze Lei)

It can be viewed as a "super river" formed by the convergence of five rivers

"A vast expanse during floods, a thin line during droughts"

(Please view horizontally, Nanji Wetland, illustrating lake surface shrinkage due to falling water levels, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

Also moving to the rhythm of Poyang Lake's pulse

It also brings rapid changes to the habitats of organisms

Carrying abundant mineral elements, humus, and more

(The river not only brings rich nutrients but also deposits large amounts of sediment into Poyang Lake; during dry seasons, sediment highlands often emerge; in the foreground are tundra swans, with ruddy shelducks in the distance, photographed near the waters of Duchang Yinshan, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

Poyang Lake is truly a massive

Accounting for about 18% of China's freshwater fish species

(Please view horizontally, illustration of Poyang Lake's fish resources, chart by @ Long Yanling/Planet Research Institute)

The "four major domestic fish": black carp, grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp

As well as precious species like reeves shad and Chinese sturgeon

(Preparing to release Chinese sturgeon into Poyang Lake, photographer @ Sun Jingbo)

Such a vast expanse teeming with fish and shrimp

It is also currently the only

(Yangtze finless porpoise, known as the "smiling angel," photographed at Yangzhou, Nanchang, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

They are only distributed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Their numbers are extremely low, with only over 1,000 remaining.

They are also a freshwater cetacean species unique to China.

The population of Yangtze finless porpoises exceeds 450.

(A Yangtze finless porpoise leaps out of the water, photographed at Yangzizhou in Nanchang; the above data comes from a press conference held by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on July 24, 2018, regarding the scientific survey of Yangtze finless porpoises and the implementation of the Yangtze rare species rescue program, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

(Map showing the main distribution range of Yangtze finless porpoises, designed by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Yet it welcomes another scene of lakeside marshes.

Wetland herbaceous plants such as Carex.

(Poyang Lake wetland landscape, photographed near Jishan in Duchang, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

Adding patches of white to the land.

(Reeds in Dahu Lake, photographer @ Liu Yuanqing)

Polygonum criopolitanum, Polygonum japonicum, and Polygonum hydropiper.

Dappling the green grassy islets with mottled colors.

(A sea of Polygonum flowers, photographed at Maying Lake in Duchang, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

While these changes are taking place.

(Please view horizontally, a flock of Black-tailed Godwits, photographed at Nanjishan in Xinjian, Nanchang, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

They come for the relatively warmer climate.

Such as Green-winged Teals, Ruddy Shelducks, and Spot-billed Ducks.

(Green-winged Teal, photographer @ Shen Junfeng)

Including Common Redshanks, Pied Avocets, and Black-winged Stilts.

Shorebirds and waders

(Black-winged Stilt, photographer @ Shen Junfeng)

(Siberian Crane, photographed in Duchang, photographer @ Yu Huiquan)

Oriental White Stork, Black Stork, Little Egret, etc.

(Little Egret fishing, photographed in Poyang County, photographer @ Wang Zhonghua)

(Great Egrets in winter at Dacha Lake and four Grey Herons in the distance, photographer @ Li Feng)

It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in Asia.

(Please view horizontally, a flock of Pied Avocets at Nanjishan, Xinjian; the above data comes from the "bird census" monitoring conducted in January 2022 by the Poyang Lake National Nature Reserve and other reserves in the lake area, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

Poyang Lake once again becomes a world of water.

(Seasonal changes of wetland plants in Poyang Lake; the vegetation zones show dominant species and their typical features like flowers, though the actual timing of these features varies among species, illustration @ Long Yanling/Planet Research Institute)

Cycling endlessly between the great lake and grassy marshes.

Its creatures also change with the seasons.

The historical southward expansion of Poyang Lake.

Most of the area where Poyang Lake is located today.

(Rural scenery of Furong Farm in Pengze County, for illustration only, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

Although the small Qiaoyang County within it was tiny,

It was situated at the central confluence of rivers.

Thus, this plain was later called

(Distribution of ancient city sites in the Qiaoyang Plain, illustration @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

(Gold cakes from the tomb of Marquis Haihun, Liu He, in Haihun County; the tomb contained nearly 500 gold artifacts weighing over 120 kg in total, preserved from theft due to being submerged in water, photographer @ Hou Yuxuan)

Residents of Haihun County affected by flooding

Today's Aicheng Town near Yongxiu County

Another portion relocated to nearby higher ground

And developed into one of Jiangxi's four major ancient towns

(Wu Cheng Migratory Bird Town Convention Center; Historically, parts of Haihun County were submerged, giving rise to the folk saying "Drown Haihun County, emerge Wu Cheng Town"; Today, Wu Cheng Town is not only one of Jiangxi's top ten cultural ancient towns but also China's Migratory Bird Town, photographer @ Liu Yuanqing)

But beyond the grand historical changes

It also defines the production and life of lakeside residents

(Cormorant fishing, photographed in Duchang Jishan waters, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

(Eel farming, photographed in Yugan Dongtang, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

(Zhuhu Lake and lakeside farmland, photographer @ Zhao Gaoxiang)

In the shallow saucer-shaped depressions around the main lake

They are ideal spots for winter fishing

(Distribution map of saucer-shaped lakes; These lakes have both natural and artificial origins, with low dikes often built around them for winter drainage fishing. However, the practice of draining ponds to catch fish severely damaged the ecosystem. Most saucer-shaped lakes are now within protected areas, and with the implementation of the Yangtze River ten-year fishing ban, this fishing method has faded into history, map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Or in the inner lakes enclosed by embankments

(Fishing in Jinxian Qinglan Lake, photographer @ Liao Shiqing)

Abundant tender grass and vast mudflats

Provide excellent grounds for livestock and poultry farming

(Grazing cattle by Poyang Lake, photographed near Dajishan in Duchang County, Jiujiang, photographer @ Yuan Wenhui)

Poyang Lake's shores are rich in produce all year round

(Drying fish, photographed in Duchang Yinshan waters, photographer @ Fu Jianbin)

Abundant aquatic products and tender green plants in the grassy marshes

have become regulars on the dining tables of lakeside residents

"The grass of Poyang Lake is the treasure of Nanchang people"

is the beloved favorite of countless Nanchang locals

(Stir-fried preserved pork with Artemisia selengensis, where Artemisia selengensis, commonly found along riverbanks or marshes, is widely distributed in the Poyang Lake region. Its growth period is from March to May, which is also the optimal harvesting time. Image credit @ Visual China)

It also yields countless grains and poultry

They become the raw materials for various delicacies

such as Nanchang white sugar cakes, stir-fried rice noodles, steamed pork with rice flour

Wandering chicken, Gongqing pressed duck, clay pot soup, etc.

Thus, the lakeside culinary identity was established

(Clay pot soup, Image credit @ Visual China)

becoming an indispensable mode of transportation

(Wuyan Bridge, located in Hukou, photographer @ Kang Ziqi)

(Map of the Jiangxi section of the Tang Dynasty's southeastern water route; this was a major waterway artery connecting the north to the Central Plains and the south to Lingnan. Map by @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

Jingdezhen ceramics, Poyang bodiless lacquerware, etc.

from the riverside and upper reaches of the lake-connected rivers

(Jingdezhen porcelain production workshop, photographer @ Liu Zhiyong)

Although they have brought changes to people's lives

the trend of reclaiming land from the lake has grown increasingly popular

(Zhuhu Polder, with aquaculture paddy fields on the left and Poyang Lake on the right, photographer @ Zhao Gaoxiang)

This situation persisted even after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

In just 22 years from 1954 to 1976,

it decreased from 5,160 to 3,914 square kilometers.

(The 2020 Poyang Lake mega-flood, photographed in Daocha Village, Poyang Town, Poyang County, Shangrao, Jiangxi; the area data above is calculated based on the water level of 21 meters at Hukou according to the Wusong elevation. Image source @ Visual China)

This reduced flood disasters in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

It is hailed as the "last protective umbrella for the lower Yangtze."

(Shoe Mountain. During the Yangtze flood season each year, Poyang Lake's water level rises, turning Shoe Mountain from a peak into an island; swipe left to see Shoe Mountain during the dry season. Photographer @ Shen Junfeng)

Providing Poyang Lake with more "expansion" space.

The Yangtze's water level during flood season gradually came under control.

The prevention and control of Poyang Lake's floods also benefited greatly.

The flood control pressure in the middle and lower reaches was significantly reduced.

(The Three Gorges Dam, photographer @ Xing Ying Bu Li)

But it also brought adverse effects to Poyang Lake.

The Three Gorges Dam, located upstream on the Yangtze,

carries more sediment with clear water than with muddy water.

(Three Gorges Dam releasing water, photographer @ Li Xinkuan)

Nine months of clear water discharge each year

deepened the riverbed in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze.

As a result, the Yangtze's water level gradually declined.

Every October at the end of the Yangtze flood season.

To meet the needs of navigation, power generation, etc.

The water levels in the middle and lower reaches have consequently declined more rapidly

Leading to an earlier and overall prolonged dry season in Poyang Lake

(Qianyan Bridge and the exposed lakebed, photographer @ Cheng Yingming)

The long-standing sand mining issue in Poyang Lake

Has also continuously deepened the riverbed of North Poyang Lake

(Sand transport and dredging vessels, photographer @ Ze Lei)

Resulting in a gradual reduction of wetland vegetation area

The once vibrant winter wetlands

(The exposed lakebed during the dry season, photographed at Xinjian Henghu; the worsening drought year after year will gradually shrink the fertile marsh wetlands, photographer @ Shen Junfeng)

It serves as the link between Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River

The sluice gates open and close dynamically to control water levels

(Schematic distribution of the planned Poyang Lake Water Control Project, cartography @ Chen Zhihao/Planet Research Institute)

New developments always come with new challenges

Submerging a portion of the existing lakeside grasslands

The vegetation pattern of winter wetlands will undergo changes

Potentially affecting the food sources of overwintering migratory birds for some time

(Siberian crane, photographed in Duchang, photographer @ Chunxiao)

The project site will become a hub for waterway transportation

Making the timid finless porpoises hesitant to approach

Additionally, the construction of the project has compressed the space here

for the migratory pathways of aquatic organisms

The migration of finless porpoises and certain fish species will be affected

and more unpredictable issues may arise

(Finless porpoise, photographed in Yangzizhou, Nanchang, by photographer Liao Shiqing)

We will eventually find better solutions

In addressing other issues concerning Poyang Lake

such as the depletion of fishery resources and damage to biodiversity caused by

electric fishing, overfishing, and other practices

as well as actively responding to the comprehensive fishing ban in the Yangtze River

(Exposed lakebed and abandoned fishing boats, photographed in Duchang, by photographer Fu Jianbin)

Another example is the strict control of wastewater treatment

for residential, agricultural, and industrial water discharges

(Sheshan Island in Duchang, home to the Poyang Lake Hydrological and Ecological Monitoring Research Base of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, photographed by Tao Jin)

It nurtures life and benefits humanity

(Please view horizontally, a night heron and a pair of intermediate egrets, photographed in Xiangshan Forest Park, Xinjian District, Nanchang, by photographer Ge Hongbing)

Editor | Director, Yunwu Kongcheng

Images | Long Shijie, Qin Nan

Proofread | Zuokou, Shaoshao, Zheng Yi

Header and cover photographer: Liao Hao

The main references of this article can be viewed by scrolling.

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