Once a bustling fishing market, the Xiaoxigang area in Wuxi city, Jiangsu province in east China has undergone a remarkable transformation into a picturesque ecological park.

Stretching 6.7 kilometers from Caowangjing to Taihu Lake and covering a water area of 234,500 square meters, Xiaoxigang was recently listed as one of the third batch of outstanding cases for beautiful rivers and lakes by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

For many longtime residents of Wuxi, the memories of Xiaoxigang in the 1980s and 1990s conjure up images of a chaotic scene filled with fishing markets and docks, where poor disposal of waste led to declining water quality in Taihu Lake. The waters around Gonghu Bay, where Xiaoxigang is located, experienced blue-green algae blooms exacerbated by nearby industrial pollution and sedimentation in local rivers.

Over the years, Wuxi has implemented a comprehensive approach to manage its water resources, and multiple departments have collaborated to tackle the environmental and ecological challenges.

A blue-green algae control system was subsequently established along the Taihu Lake coastline, enhancing the water ecology and enabling effective water environmental restoration.

Currently, three algae separation and collection stations have been established along the Xiaoxigang, Xuxiangang and Zhangqiaogang. Algae-water separation devices were put into operation, which utilized flocculants to consolidate algae into larger particles, facilitating their rapid sinking and treatment.

Moreover, the "sponge" concept has been applied to landscape design and infrastructure construction along the Xiaoxigang area, which helped promote the circulation of a regional water system and improve the overall water quality.

The sponge facilities along Qingshui River, an important tributary of Xiaoxigang, include rain gardens, vegetation-buffered slopes, bioswales, and retention ponds, achieving a suspended solids removal rate of over 60 percent.

As part of the initiative, permeable concrete pathways have been laid along the riverside to capture and regulate rainwater. These facilities showcase a comprehensive permeability rate exceeding 70 percent, drastically mitigating pollution during rainstorms and enhancing water quality to revitalize the river ecosystem.

Now with its wooden walkways, lush underwater plants, and sailboat-shaped viewing platforms, the Xiaoxigang Yuzui Park has emerged as a popular destination for recreation and eco-tourism.