The first batch of 15 beautiful rivers and lakes in Guangzhou – the capital of South China's Guangdong province – was released by the municipal authorities on June 24 and the Chebei River in the city's Tianhe district made the list.

The Chebei River is the longest and largest river in Tianhe and in recent years the district government has made great efforts in its water governance.

A peaceful scene highlights the clear waters of the Chebei River. [Photo by Guo Yanhong/Nanfang Plus]

A four-tier river chief system has been built, with one city-level, one district-level, nine neighborhood-level, and 38 village-level river chiefs.

Fifteen volunteer groups, with 426 volunteers, were established to do regular river patrols.

What's more, 58 drainage areas were established along the waterway – where activities like building washing, well flushing, tube cleaning, and river governance were carried out.

Adding to that, over 200,000 square meters of illegal construction along the river were demolished.

Then greenways were built alongside the river and its branches, which connect with the South China National Botanical Garden, the Tianhe Wetland Park, the Guangdong Tree Park, and Huolu Mountain Forest Park – forming an ecological leisure tour route for visitors.

The Chebei River, after having undergone pollution controls, now offers a wonderful view. [Photo by Guo Yanhong/Nanfang Plus]

Historical and cultural elements were also highlighted on the river.

The Chebei Dragon Boat Cultural Exhibition Hall was set up to carry forward the enduring dragon boat culture in Chebei village, which became an intangible cultural heritage item of Guangzhou in 2017 and attained provincial-level status in 2022.

In 2023, the water quality in Chebei River reached Grade III, good enough for most water-borne organisms to live in. As a result of the effective governance, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment entered the river on its honor roll and its governance model became a benchmark example of national water governance.