Herds of Mongolian horses gallop along the lakeshore in Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou. [Photo/Inner Mongolia news network]

In early winter, the grasslands of Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner in Baotou, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, present a stunning picture of a "green canvas framed in gold".

Under clear skies, frost-tipped grasses shimmer in sunlight as cattle, horses, camels, and sheep roam freely across the quiet expanse.

Along the wetlands of the Aibugai River, flocks of cormorants and ruddy shelducks play and rest, adding a sense of vitality to the tranquil scene. Once barren and sand-ridden, the land is now blanketed in lush vegetation – a vivid testament to the success of ecological restoration efforts.

Migratory birds rest in a river in Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou. [Photo/Inner Mongolia news network]

Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner's initiatives such as grassland tickets, pasture-solar integration, and mine rehabilitation are creating not only a flourishing ecosystem but also a prosperous livelihood for herders – enabling them to have pastures, income, and hope.

By the end of 2024, the banner had restored a total of 4.37 million mu (about 291,333 hectares) of grassland, increasing vegetation coverage from 31.2 percent to 35.1 percent.

Cattle and horses graze leisurely on the grasslands in Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner, Baotou. [Photo/Inner Mongolia news network]