Qilian Mountains Symphony Concert Showcases Ecological Achievements in Gansu

The second Qilian Mountains Symphony Concert was staged at Shandan Horse Ranch in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, on August 15. Musicians from the Gansu Symphony Orchestra presented classic symphonic works with an innovative integration of ecological elements and symphonic expressions, vividly depicting the magnificent natural scenery and historical changes of the Qilian Mountains.

Serving as a crucial water conservation zone for the Qilian Mountains, Shandan Horse Ranch undertakes core ecological functions to safeguard the ecological security of the Hexi Corridor. Continuous systematic ecological governance has been implemented at the ranch in recent years, driving steady green and high-quality development along the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains.

Strict ecological management mechanisms have been fully enforced to stabilise local grassland ecosystems. The ranch has adhered to grass-livestock balance principles and strictly observed ecological protection red lines via a specialised rotational grazing and resting system. It has sustained the protection and management of 1.05 million mu of grazing-prohibited grasslands, with the livestock carrying capacity scientifically capped at 55,900 sheep units to reduce grazing pressure on native grasslands from the source. Meanwhile, rain-fed transformation has been completed on 37,000 mu of irrigated farmland, advancing the ecological upgrading of regional cultivated land resources.

Targeted ecological restoration initiatives have been carried out to improve degraded grassland conditions. Large-scale no-till reseeding projects have been launched to restore damaged grass vegetation, while specialised treatments for grassland diseases, pests, rodents and toxic weeds have eliminated key factors undermining ecological stability. The construction of artificial forage grasslands and grassland fences has effectively prevented excessive grazing and vegetation consumption, strengthening the self-repairing capacity of local grassland ecosystems.

Integrated ecological supervision and coordinated management have further minimised human interference in regional ecology. Implementing forest and river chief systems, the ranch has set up full-time patrol teams and adopted air-space-ground integrated dynamic monitoring technologies including drones and satellite remote sensing for real-time ecological supervision. More than 4,000 mountain resident households have been resettled in low-altitude areas, and local food processing industries have been relocated downhill, substantially cutting human activity impacts on core ecological zones and optimising the regional ecological layout.

Long-term persistent governance has delivered remarkable ecological improvements at Shandan Horse Ranch. The comprehensive vegetation coverage of local grasslands keeps rising, and wild animals such as blue sheep and white-tailed deer have frequently appeared in the area, marking the vigorous recovery of local grassland ecology. The symphony concert presents the remarkable ecological transformation of the Qilian Mountains through artistic expression, echoing the thriving natural landscape nurtured by years of ecological protection and restoration efforts.