Recently, the Xiba Riverside Walkway in Yichang, famed for its clear waters, wide riverbanks and picturesque scenery and known as Yichang's "Little Qingdao", has officially been assigned a dedicated name — "Three Gorges · Yangtze Finless Porpoise Bay". Located on Xiba Island in Xiling District, Yichang, and adjacent to the Gezhouba Hydrocomplex Project, the walkway constitutes an important part of Xiba Island's ecological landscape.

Originally named Xisai Dam, Xiba Island has long functioned as a transit hub for transport and trade between Sichuan and Hubei since ancient times. During the construction of the Gezhouba Hydrocomplex Project, the island acted as a logistics support base. It bears witness to the extraordinary course of this key national undertaking coming into being, and records how China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd. ("CYPC"), a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation ("CTG") safeguards the Yangtze River and delivers on its mission as a central SOE. For many years, owing to historical factors, infrastructure development on Xiba Island advanced at a relatively slow pace, with room for further improvement in living conditions and riparian ecosystems. Upholding CTG's philosophy of "constructing one hydropower station to boost local economy, improve the regional environment and benefit resettlers", CYPC has taken an active part in the "Beautiful Xiba · One Island, One Family" co-construction initiative launched by the Xiba Subdistrict Office. The Company has embedded the vision of enterprise-local integration and ecological wellbeing for the people into the entire upgrading process of Xiba, thereby fulfilling the social responsibilities of a central SOE with concrete actions.

Better livelihoods bring tangible benefits to residents. Partnering with the local government, CYPC has pushed forward the renovation of the island's road network. The upgrading and refurbishment of Xiba 2nd Road, Jianshe Road, and Heping Road have been completed, effectively resolving problems affecting residents' daily lives in old neighborhoods, such as rainwater backflow. Meanwhile, a fire station, pocket parks, Party-mass service centers, public cultural and sports grounds, and convenient parking lots have been successively completed and put into operation. These efforts have comprehensively remedied deficiencies in the island's living amenities, effectively boosting residents' sense of security and wellbeing. The project ensures that power station development benefits local communities and the fruits of development are shared among the people.

Ecological renewal has brought dramatic transformation to the riverbank. Vast azure waters stretch afar; the silvery-white Gezhouba Hydrocomplex Project lies majestically across the river, with riverside rocks churning up layers of white spray, painting a unique waterfront landscape scroll. The Ecological Environment Improvement Project of the Xiba Section was implemented in two phases. Phase I saw the completion of a 600-m ecological walkway and the ecological restoration of 12,400 m2 of riparian slopes. Phase II expanded and extended the riverside corridor by 2,344 m, adding leisure and recreational facilities. The fully connected 2.4-km riverside scenic belt has transformed the once wild weedy riverbank into a popular spot for residents to stroll, take children outdoors and take photos.

At present, the ecological condition in the waters surrounding the project keeps improving. The better ecological environment has attracted a growing number of Yangtze finless porpoises to frolic in these waters. The scene of porpoises chasing ripples amid clear waters flowing east has become the new normal on Xiba. Leveraging superior ecological endowments, new cultural tourism formats are thriving along the riverfront, with offerings of tea, coffee and wine. Economic vitality on the island continues to be unleashed, enabling coordinated development of ecological preservation, livelihood improvement and industrial empowerment.

Having shed the moniker of Yichang's "Little Qingdao" and adopted the cultural identity of "Three Gorges · Yangtze Finless Porpoise Bay", this stretch of riverbank on Xiba Island has undergone a dramatic transformation: from a construction site on the sandbar to a brand-new riverside paradise boasting clear waters and frolicking porpoises. This shift constitutes a vivid illustration of China's pursuit of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics, as well as a tangible practice of CTG's ecological conservation philosophy along the banks of the Yangtze River. Going forward, CTG staff will remain steadfast along the riverfront. Coordinating multiple missions including flood regulation and operation, clean energy supply, ecological preservation and local collaborative development, they will continue to write a new chapter for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt with sincere devotion to guarding the mighty Yangtze.