China has marked a significant milestone in its ecological restoration efforts, successfully revitalizing 88 key rivers and lakes across the nation by the end of September 2025. This achievement, announced by the Ministry of Water Resources, is part of the ‘Mother River Rejuvenation’ action plan launched in 2022. The initiative aims to restore ecological flows to waterways that had been dry for decades, addressing long-standing environmental challenges. Tailored restoration strategies were implemented for each water body, considering their unique geographical and ecological conditions. Notable successes include the Yellow River maintaining uninterrupted flow for 26 consecutive years and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which had been dry for a century, now flowing continuously for four years. In the Haihe River Basin, once plagued by severe water scarcity and pollution, systematic rehabilitation has reversed ecological degradation. The Yongding River, which had dry sections for 26 years, has seen water flow through its entire length for five years, while Baiyangdian Lake, a crucial wetland in northern China, has maintained stable ecological water levels for seven years. Looking ahead, China plans to expand the program to more river basins and establish long-term mechanisms for sustaining these ecological improvements. The ministry emphasized the importance of continuing tailored restoration approaches to enhance the health of the nation’s waterways.