Improved water management brings old spring back to life(2)

A senior visitor washes his hands in spring water at Jinci Temple on March 24. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily]

"The resurgence of Nanlao Spring is a matter of great joy for the people of Shanxi," said Wang Runmei, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and Party secretary of the Taiyuan Public Facilities Construction and Management Center's No 2 Road and Drainage Maintenance Station.

"This is a new achievement in ecological environment protection in the Yellow River Basin by Shanxi, and a significant milestone in groundwater management and spring protection in North China. It reflects the further improvement of Shanxi's ecological environment," Wang said.

She explained that following the spring drying up, Shanxi shut down nearby coal mines and enterprises that consume a lot of water, and carried out water resource replacement projects.

These efforts ultimately led to the resurgence of the spring.

Entrepreneur Zheng Weihua, on his first visit to Jinci, was deeply impressed by the spring's splendor. He said he was not only attracted by the spring but also greatly appreciated the ancient architecture and millennia-old cypress trees surviving at the site.

He said that the fresh air and rich cultural heritage make the area ideal for developing the healthcare industry.

Guo Baoping, director at the Jinci Museum, said, "We actively cooperate with the water conservancy department to monitor the water flow of the spring every day, while also monitoring the water temperature and quality."

Shanxi, known as the "water tower of North China", serves as a water source conservation area for Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

The project to revive Nanlao Spring embodies Shanxi's efforts in water management and water conservation, said Liu Yuwei, director of the Taiyuan Culture Relics Bureau. "Nanlao Spring carries deep cultural emotions and beautiful memories for the people of Shanxi," Liu said.