Underwater photographer impressed by extraordinary beauty of Hebei’s Baiyangdian Lake

Having filmed in most of the world's waters, a Chinese underwater photographer Zhou Fang says she is still amazed by the breath-taking beauty of the famous Baiyangdian Lake located in the Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei Province.

Throughout the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the imperial court continually expanded the marshlands, resulting in the formation of a meandering "Water Great Wall". From then onward, the Baiyangdian Lake, nicknamed the "Pearl of North China", has been used to store floodwater regulating the climate and helps replenish groundwater.

In April 2017, China announced its plans to set up the Xiongan New Area, which is situated in the three counties surrounding the Baiyangdian Lake. Significant work has been made to comprehensively improve the environment around the lake.

Thanks to the ecological restoration that was part of the new area's development, the water quality of Baiyangdian has been upgraded significantly.

Zhou has filmed in most of the world's waters, including lakes, oceans, and caverns. However, it was her first time encountering with such a large and shallow lake like the Baiyangdian Lake.

"As I immersed myself, I felt it with my heart, I saw beauty, clarity, naturalness and co-existence," Zhou said.

She recorded the magic and beauty of the underwater world of the Baiyangdian Lake with her camera, showing the different states of the aquatic animals and plants, and fully demonstrating the extraordinary beauty of the Xiongan New Area.

"This water has been flowing for thousands of years and I believe it will become even more beautiful," Zhou said.