Sanzhoutian Reservoir in Yantian District has recently been named to the latest batch of Guangdong’s “Beautiful Rivers and Lakes,” alongside the Shiqiao Waterway in Panyu, Guangzhou, and the Suifengnian Waterway in Shatian, Dongguan.

Nestled in the mountains and often cloaked in mist, Sanzhoutian is Shenzhen’s highest-altitude reservoir. It plays an essential role in the city’s “mountains-and-sea-connected” urban landscape and ecology. Despite being situated within a densely populated megacity, the reservoir has been carefully preserved and developed, maintaining a near-pristine natural ecosystem. Its water quality has consistently ranked among the best in the province, meeting Class I surface water standards for years.

To protect the purity of this drinking water source, local water authorities have taken rigorous measures to block pollutants from entering the reservoir and have supplemented it with clean water during dry seasons.

The area surrounding the reservoir has become a sanctuary for a wide range of wildlife. It is home to Shenzhen’s only national first-class protected plant species — the elegant slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum insigne) — as well as two amphibian species and three reptile species endemic to China. The rare Shenzhen rear-fanged snake (Opisthotropis shenzhenensis), listed in Guangdong Province’s “Catalog of Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals,” has also been spotted here.

To ensure precise monitoring and dynamic regulation, the reservoir has been equipped with a smart sensing network and a water quality early warning and management system.

Beyond ecological preservation, Yantian District has also tapped into the area’s natural resources to create leisure destinations for the public. By connecting countryside trails, building waterfront corridors, and renovating lookout platforms, the district has developed several popular spots, including Yunhai Plaza and the Xiaosanzhou Cherry Woods. In spring, visitors flock to see cherry blossoms; in autumn and winter, they come to observe wetland birds.

Sanzhoutian Village was the starting point of the Gengzi Uprising — the 1900 Huizhou Uprising led by Sun Yat-sen. In 1958, the entire village was relocated to make way for the reservoir’s construction. Today, Yantian District has designated the Gengzi Uprising historic site as a district-level cultural heritage site and built the Sun Yat-sen Sculpture Park in commemoration of the uprising. In 2005, Donggang Primary School was renamed Gengzi Uprising Zhongshan Memorial School.

Meanwhile, the district has launched a public volunteering campaign to help protect local rivers and lakes, which has already drawn more than 5,000 participants.