Tourists enjoy a river cruise along the Yellow River in Lanzhou, Gansu, Nov 10, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

In recent years, Lanzhou has implemented various measures to protect the river, including inspecting and rectifying sewage outlets, expanding and upgrading sewage treatment plants, and treating black and odorous water bodies. These efforts have restored the river's clarity.

The water quality at both national and provincial monitoring stations along the Lanzhou section has achieved a 100 percent excellence rate. The water quality at the city's exit point has consistently maintained Grade II standards, improving to Grade I in 2023, ensuring clean water flows downstream. As a result, the ecological environment along both banks of the Yellow River continues to improve.