On an autumn day along the Yellow River in Zhengzhou, clear waves meander eastward, while lush greenery sways along the banks. This mother river, which nurtured Chinese civilization, is now writing a new chapter of "peaceful and unscathed, brimming with vitality" on the land of Henan.

There was a time when the flooding of the Yellow River was a constant threat to the people of Henan. Today, the gates of the Zhaokou sluice are steadily raised and lowered, the stone revetments of the Yangqiao emergency engineering project are neatly arranged, and embankments reinforced with 140,000 cubic meters of earth and stone stretch like a "Great Wall on the water." Moreover, the "digital twin of the Yellow River" provides real-time protection, with 52 video surveillance points, four root stone early warning sites, and drone patrols weaving a multi-layered defense line, making the long-cherished dream of a peaceful Yellow River within reach.

An ecological transformation has revitalized the mother river. The once disorderly beach areas have been transformed into 14,700 mu of green land, with 790,000 trees forming an ecological barrier. The 6,500 mu of wetlands have become a paradise for birds, hosting over 6,000 rare migratory birds such as black storks. Under the warm autumn sun, the Yellow River harmonizes with the green fields, while flying birds and strolling visitors compose a picture of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

With peace as the foundation and ecology as the bridge, industries are quietly blossoming. In the apple orchards of Yanming Lake Town, the nearly 20,000 mu of "golden picking belt" bring smiles to farmers' faces. In the industrial park, over a hundred automotive parts companies generate an annual output value exceeding 20 billion yuan, turning once-barren beach areas into hubs of development. In the ancient village of Jiubao, tourists flock in droves.

From relying on the river for survival to revitalizing the river to enrich the people, the transformation of the Yellow River in Henan encapsulates the wisdom of river basin management and reflects the relentless efforts of the people of the Central Plains.

The great river flows majestically, carrying with it the memories of civilization and forging toward an even broader future, with Henan's Yellow River now embracing a new posture.

Web editors: Shen Jianqi, Li Siyao