On a winter day along the banks of the Songhua River in Jilin city, the temperature can drop as low as -20 C, but it is still a paradise for wild ducks.

Local grassroots conservationist Ren Jianguo said that he has witnessed increasing numbers and species of wild ducks to come to Jilin in recent years due to government effort to improve the local ecological system.

According to a water pollution control blueprint for the Songhua River over the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), the city plans 10 major projects this year to reduce urban sewage and industrial pollution treatment, and all have started construction.