The Huangmaohai bridge in Guangdong province linking Jiangmen and Zhuhai, where flocks of egrets make a picturesque scene as the setting sun lends its golden hue. [PHOTO BY SHI LEI/FOR CHINA DAILY]

Photo exhibition displays colorful and diverse ecosystems in all their glory

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, cradled by the Nanling Mountains and facing the South China Sea, boasts a topography that creates a diverse ecosystem. This region is recognized as one of the world's biodiversity hot spots, home to stunning natural landscapes, a breathtaking array of wildlife, and a plethora of mysterious and extraordinary plants and animals.

To allow the public to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the region's wildlife, Dynamic Bay Area: Biodiversity Photography Exhibition was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, this month, a display of more than 80 photos by photographers, conservationists and academics from the area.

Under the guidance of the Guangdong provincial government's information office and organized by the Nanfang Media Group and the Guangdong Photojournalists Society, the event sought to plant a seed, to make more people aware of nature and care for the planet, Yang Mingsen, chief expert at the All-China Environment Federation, said at the opening ceremony on March 12.

Deng Hong, deputy director of the provincial government's information office, said the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area not only has a vibrant innovation ecosystem but also is home to rich biodiversity.

Egrets soar majestically over Liuxi River, demonstrating the beautiful and vibrant environment of the Liuxi River National Forest Park in Guangzhou. [PHOTO BY SHI YUEMOU/FOR CHINA DAILY]

All the pictures were taken last year, when photographers from the area embarked on a remarkable journey spanning more than 5,000 kilometers. Alongside conservation scientists and public welfare advocates, they traversed the region's diverse terrains. Their mission was to capture the essence of the area's biodiversity through their lenses, and explore how a world-class urban cluster could harmoniously coexist with its natural environment.

Divided into four chapters — Mountains, Rivers, Sea and City, the five-day event revealed the area's hidden wonders: from the elusive yellow-bellied Tragopan pheasant and the rare Paphiopedilum purpuratum flower in the depths of the Nanling Mountains, to the Chinese pangolin in the rugged terrain of the Wuqinzhang Mountain in Huidong county, Guangdong; from the Chinese white dolphins in the Lingdingyang waters of the Pearl River Estuary to the spoon-billed sandpiper and Chinese crested tern in the waters of Zhanjiang.

As visitors wandered through the exhibition, they were transported to the heart of the region's natural world, experiencing the spirit and vitality of a land where every creature and element of nature tells a story of resilience and wonder.

The exhibition was a testament to the successful integration of environmental conservation into the fabric of regional development, illustrating a path where urban advancement and biodiversity conservation walk hand in hand.

On the shallow flats of Tsim Bei Tsui in Hong Kong, mudskippers act in unison. [PHOTO BY PAN HUIQIANG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

During a survey of Chinese white dolphins conducted by the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, one decides to make its presence known. [PHOTO BY GAO HAN/FOR CHINA DAILY]

In the waters of Wailingding Island in Zhuhai, crown fish dart among sea anemones. The fish brings food to the anemone, while the anemone, in turn, provides protection. [PHOTO BY SHI LEI/FOR CHINA DAILY]

A paradise for egrets in the heart of Guangzhou, Guangdong. [PHOTO BY DONG TIANJIAN/FOR CHINA DAILY]

Staff from a terrestrial wildlife rescue and epidemic monitoring station in Shenzhen, Guangdong, release a leopard cat back into the wild. [PHOTO BY ZHU HONGBO/FOR CHINA DAILY]