Photo captures the view of Gehu Lake in Yixing. [Photo/wxrb.com]
In Yixing, a 10-kilometer running path along Gehu Lake has been popular with local runners for its wonderful natural views and comfortable running experience.
The pleasant ecological environment of Gehu Lake is a result of long-term efforts made by the local government and residents.
Located in the upper reaches of Taihu Lake, Gehu Lake is an important ecological barrier of Taihu Lake. With a shoreline that stretches 24 kilometers in Yixing, Gehu Lake goes through Guanlin, Gaocheng, and Heqiao town.
In the early 1980s, in order to increase fishery production, residents by Gehu Lake took the lead in conducting experiments on purse seine farming in the country.
The total aquaculture area of Gehu Lake now covers almost 6,000 hectares, accounting for 52 percent of the total aquaculture area in Yixing. Many locals were able to increase their incomes through the high-quality crabs and fish raised inside it.
Shao Ningwei has been engaged in crab farming by Gehu Lake for nearly 20 years. According to Shao, he can feed more precisely with the help of the latest technologies, such as the internet of things, which can also help avoid water pollution caused by overfeeding.
In 2012, the local government in Yixing introduced the recirculating aquaculture system to over 533 hectares of aquafarms to reduce pollution in Gehu Lake.
To date, Yixing has built up 80 hectares of reed wetlands as part of its environmental protection and ecological development efforts.
