Beijing Xiangshan Park Cooperates with Chinese Academy of Sciences 

on Firefly Ecological Conservation

Beijing Xiangshan Park (Fragrant Hills) Cooperates with Ouyang Fang’s Project Team of Chinese Academy of Sciences to Carry out Research and Demonstration Application on Firefly Ecological Conservation and Its Service Value Transformation

Historical Status of Beijing Xiangshan Park

Located in the hinterland of the Western Hills in western Beijing, Beijing Xiangshan Park (Fragrant Hills) covers an area of 188 hectares (2,820 mu). It is a comprehensive scenic spot integrating the heritage of imperial gardens, red revolutionary history and urban ecological functions.

Boasting a longstanding history, Xiangshan constitutes a key component of the "Three Hills and Five Gardens" in western Beijing. Its garden construction dates back to the Jin Dynasty. During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was expanded into Jingyi Garden, featuring scattered pavilions and serene ancient temples. "Sunny Snow over the Western Hills", one of the Eight Great Sights of Yanjing, made it a renowned imperial garden in the Qing Dynasty. Though suffering damages over time, its classical garden style has been restored and reproduced through conservation and renovation.

Xiangshan is also a vital site of red revolution. In 1949, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China moved into Xiangshan. Chairman Mao Zedong and other leaders commanded the national liberation war and mapped out the blueprint for the new China at Shuangqing Villa and Laiqingxuan. It witnessed the pivotal course toward the victory of the Chinese revolution and now serves as an important redthemed education base.

Furthermore, Xiangshan acts as a core ecological functional zone in western Beijing. Boasting high forest coverage, dense vegetation and numerous ancient trees, it sustains a stable mountain forest ecosystem, performing key functions including water conservation, air purification and urban climate regulation. Every late autumn, the mountain is covered by spectacular red maple leaves. The harmonious integration of splendid natural ecology and profound cultural heritage makes Xiangshan a unique mountainwater famous garden in Beijing.

Introduction to the Research Project Team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

The project team for Resource Insect Monitoring, Assessment, Conservation and Utilization, led by Dr. Ouyang Fang from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has longterm research on animalplant interactions, ecological service functions of insects (pollination, biological pest control and decomposition functions of bees, fireflies, rhinoceros beetles, etc.) and paths for value transformation, and promotes the industrial application of relevant research outcomes. In recent years, the project team has achieved phased progress in theoretical innovation, technological breakthroughs, product development and ecological solution provision concerning fireflies.

In terms of theoretical exploration, through years of theoretical research and practical verification, the team has systematically interpreted the value of multidimensional ecological services of fireflies in nature reserve management and urbanrural habitat restoration — fireflies’ faint light facilitates biodiversity conservation and ecological prevention and control of harmful organisms. In technological research, the team has overcome indoor breeding technologies for fireflies and realized largescale ecological cyclic breeding. Meanwhile, it has developed field conservation technologies for fireflies, implemented demonstration projects of landscape ecological restoration, and put forward the concept of constructing firefly nature ecological conservation zones in different regions across China.

Research Objectives of the Cooperation between Beijing Xiangshan Park and the Project Team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 

After multiple rounds of discussions, the Administration Office of Beijing Xiangshan Park and the project team led by Dr. Ouyang Fang from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences take Xiangshan Park and its surrounding areas as the research demonstration zone. Based on fireflies’ fourfold ecological roles as indicator species, keystone species, umbrella species and flagship species, they systematically conduct research and demonstration application on firefly ecological conservation and its service value transformation, striving to build Xiangshan Park into a demonstration benchmark for firefly biodiversity conservation in mountain gardens on the outskirts of megacities.

Establish baseline data and quantify habitats

Carry out baseline surveys on native firefly resources in Beijing Xiangshan Park, systematically document species types, temporalspatial distribution and habitat characteristics. Combined with literature research, clarify the historical and current distribution of 9 native firefly species in Beijing. Centering on water volume, water quality, vegetation structure, soil type and nocturnal light environment, quantify the indicator system of suitable firefly habitats, identify key limiting factors for habitat degradation, and provide scientific support for habitat restoration design.

Achieve technological breakthroughs and restore habitats

Following the principles of "native species, authenticity, conservation priority, minimal intervention and regular monitoring", we will tackle key technologies for indoor ecological cultivation and field conservation of fireflies in Xiangshan Park, and establish a closedloop technical workflow of "local material collection - indoor propagation - field acclimatization - reintroduction for selfsustaining survival - longterm monitoring". Microhabitat renovation plans will be optimized according to the requirements of different ecotypes, including terrestrial, aquatic and semiaquatic fireflies. Dynamic monitoring will be implemented by combining sampleplot setup, regular field surveys and DNA molecular genetic identification, to ensure the longterm stable survival of reintroduced populations rather than shortlived ephemeral presence. 

Realize value transformation for public wellbeing

Leverage the dual brand advantages of Xiangshan’s imperial garden landscape and red revolutionary education base to develop nature education and sciencepopularization activities, build a "nightschoolstyle" popular science system accessible during walking, and disseminate concepts of biodiversity conservation and ecological prevention and control of harmful organisms. Explore a new integrated development path of "ecological conservation + nature education + nighttime economy" against the backdrop of gardencity construction. Promote the transformation of firefly ecological service value into sciencepopularization researchandstudy programs, cultural experiences and ecological industries, and form a replicable and promotable demonstration model for urban parks that practices the "Two Mountains Theory".

Term Explanation: Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets

      "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" is the core philosophy for China’s ecological‑civilization development.

"Lucid waters and lush mountains" refers to a sound natural ecological environment, covering ecological resources such as mountains, rivers, forests, lakes and biodiversity.

"Invaluable assets" stands for economic development, people’s livelihood wealth and social well‑being. This philosophy breaks the conventional opposing mindset that "economic development has to come at the cost of the environment, and environmental protection requires giving up development". It clarifies that ecological environmental protection and economic development are not contradictory, but dialectically unified.

Its core connotation is: protecting the ecological environment means protecting productive forces; improving the ecological environment means developing productive forces. A sound ecosystem is a valuable asset in its own right. By safeguarding the ecological baseline of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes and grasslands, and fully tapping into the value of ecological resources, we can develop eco‑tourism, nature‑based science study tours and green industries. Ecological advantages can be translated into economic and developmental strengths to achieve win‑win outcomes for ecological conservation, economic growth and improved people’s livelihood.

The firefly conservation project at Xiangshan Park serves as a practical example of this philosophy. By restoring habitats for native insects and conserving biodiversity, while developing popular‑science experience activities, the project converts ecological resources into values for science education and cultural experiences. It demonstrates that ecological conservation can also bring benefits to the public and deliver sustainable development.

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