China's Ministry of Water Resources recently announced its list of "Happy Rivers and Lakes for 2025", which includes 28 selected waterways and lakes. Beijing's Liangma River became the first river in Beijing to receive this national honor.

With a total length of about 11.4 kilometers, the Liangma (literally "bright horses") River takes its name from the Ming Dynasty, when imperial horses were washed and rested along its banks. Today, it serves as a vital ecological and cultural corridor in Beijing, combining flood control, drainage, and landscape viewing functions.

Restaurants offering exotic flavors line the waterfront, while outdoor markets, large-scale events and cultural performances are frequently held here, drawing numerous locals and tourists for leisure, entertainment, shopping, and dining.

In addition to the Liangma River, several other rivers and lakes in Beijing have also received national and international recognition. Restoration projects for rivers and lakes, such as that of the Yongding River, were listed as National Typical Demonstration Cases. The Beijing Wenyu River Park won the Gold Award for Environmentally Sustainable Projects, while the waterfront construction project of the Ba River (the section from Jiuxianqiao Road to Langyuan) claimed the Gold Prize at the 2025 French Design Award.

Thanks to the systematic river and lake management, Beijing's aquatic ecological environment continues to improve. The city's five major rivers have flowed uninterrupted into the sea for five consecutive years. The Yongding River flows year-round along its entire course for three straight years. The water quality of all rivers and lakes in urban and rural areas of Beijing has seen significant improvement. The proportion of healthy water bodies in the city has reached 87.6 percent, while the soil and water conservation rate has hit 89.8 percent. Additionally, over 400 kilometers of waterfront walking trails have been constructed, and the city's total distance of navigable rivers and lakes has reached 100 kilometers.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)