lushuiqingshanjiushijinshanyinshan: 绿水青山就是金山银山 - Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets

• Keywords: 绿水青山就是金山银山, lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān, lucid waters and lush mountains, Chinese environmental policy, Xi Jinping ecology, Two Mountains Theory, sustainable development in China, green economy, 生态文明, Ecological Civilization.
• Summary: The phrase “绿水青山就是金山银山 (lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān)” is a cornerstone of modern China's environmental and economic policy, famously promoted by President Xi Jinping. Translating to “Lucid waters and lush mountains are mountains of gold and silver,” it powerfully argues that a healthy environment is itself an immense economic asset. This concept, also known as the “Two Mountains Theory,” represents a fundamental shift away from prioritizing growth at all costs towards a model of sustainable, green development, making it essential for understanding contemporary Chinese politics, society, and business.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān
• Part of Speech: Idiomatic Phrase / Political Slogan
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A pristine natural environment is equivalent to vast material wealth.
• In a Nutshell: This phrase is a direct and poetic equation: Nature = Wealth. It rejects the old idea that you must choose between economic development and environmental protection. Instead, it asserts that protecting the environment is a form of economic development. By preserving “green waters and lush mountains,” a region can create immense value through things like eco-tourism, improved public health, and sustainable agriculture, which are the “mountains of gold and silver.”

• 绿 (lǜ): Green; lush.
• 水 (shuǐ): Water.
• 青 (qīng): A color that can mean green, blue, or black, but here means lush or verdant.
• 山 (shān): Mountain.
• 就是 (jiù shì): A strong connector meaning “is precisely” or “is in fact.” It emphasizes the equivalence.
• 金 (jīn): Gold.
• 山 (shān): Mountain.
• 银 (yín): Silver.
• 山 (shān): Mountain.

The phrase is structured as a simple A = B equation. `绿水青山` (A) paints a vivid picture of a beautiful, healthy natural environment. `金山银山` (B) is a classic metaphor for immense riches. The emphatic `就是` firmly links them, declaring that the former is the foundation for the latter.

This phrase, while modern in its political application, taps into deep-seated Chinese cultural values.

• Political Shift: First articulated by Xi Jinping in 2005, this slogan has become the central pillar of his “Ecological Civilization” (生态文明) initiative. It signals a major pivot from the previous era's focus on unbridled GDP growth, which often came at a severe environmental cost. It is a top-down directive to all levels of government and industry to re-evaluate their priorities.
• Philosophical Roots: The idea of harmony between humanity and nature is a core concept in Taoism, expressed by the term `天人合一 (tiān rén hé yī)`, or the “oneness of heaven and humanity.” This slogan can be seen as a modern, political application of this ancient wisdom, framing environmentalism not just as a responsibility but as a path to prosperity.
• Comparison to Western Concepts: The Western concept of “sustainable development” is a close parallel. However, there's a key difference in feel and function. “Sustainable development” is a technical, academic term. “绿水青山就是金山银山” is a powerful, poetic, and easily memorized slogan that functions as both a moral vision and a political command. It rejects the “jobs vs. environment” debate common in the West, forcefully stating that a good environment creates good jobs and lasting wealth.

This is not an obscure proverb; it is one of the most visible and influential phrases in China today.

• Government and Policy: It is ubiquitous in official government reports, five-year plans, and speeches by officials at all levels. It is the guiding principle behind the creation of national parks, anti-pollution campaigns, and rural revitalization projects aimed at developing eco-tourism. You will see it on large red banners and billboards in both cities and the countryside.
• Business and Industry: Chinese companies, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable agriculture, often incorporate this slogan into their marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports to show alignment with national goals.
• Media and Public Discourse: State media frequently quotes the phrase in news reports about environmental achievements. While it is a formal slogan, ordinary people may use it in discussions about local development, for example, arguing against a polluting factory by saying, “We need to remember that `绿水青山就是金山银山`.”
• Formality: The phrase is formal and carries the weight of official state policy. Using it in casual conversation would sound very serious, as if you were quoting a political leader. It is most appropriate when discussing serious topics like policy, economics, or environmental conservation.

• Example 1:
  • 地方政府必须牢记“绿水青山就是金山银山”，不能为了短期的经济利益而牺牲环境。
  • Pinyin: Dìfāng zhèngfǔ bìxū láojì “lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān”, bùnéng wèile duǎnqī de jīngjì lìyì ér xīshēng huánjìng.
  • English: Local governments must firmly remember that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” and must not sacrifice the environment for short-term economic gains.
  • Analysis: This is a typical example of how the phrase is used in a formal, policy-oriented context, serving as a directive or guiding principle.
• Example 2:
  • 这位村长带领村民发展生态旅游，真正实现了绿水青山就是金山银山。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi cūnzhǎng dàilǐng cūnmín fāzhǎn shēngtài lǚyóu, zhēnzhèng shíxiàn le lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān.
  • English: This village chief led the villagers to develop eco-tourism, truly realizing the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: This shows the phrase being used to describe a successful outcome. The `实现了 (shíxiàn le)` means “realized” or “achieved,” showing the concept was put into practice.
• Example 3:
  • 我们的企业理念就是绿水青山就是金山银山，致力于生产环保产品。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de qǐyè lǐniàn jiùshì lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān, zhìlì yú shēngchǎn huánbǎo chǎnpǐn.
  • English: Our company's philosophy is “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” and we are committed to producing environmentally friendly products.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how a business might adopt the slogan as part of its corporate identity to align with national goals.
• Example 4:
  • 有些人仍然不理解绿水青山就是金山银山的深刻含义。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén réngrán bù lǐjiě lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān de shēnkè hányì.
  • English: Some people still don't understand the profound meaning of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: This sentence treats the slogan as a concept or theory that requires understanding.
• Example 5:
  • 经过多年的治理，这条曾经污染的河流又变清了，这证明了绿水青山就是金山银山。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de zhìlǐ, zhè tiáo céngjīng wūrǎn de héliú yòu biàn qīng le, zhè zhèngmíng le lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān.
  • English: After many years of remediation, this once-polluted river has become clear again, which proves that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: Here, a tangible result (a clean river) is used as proof (`证明了`) of the slogan's validity.
• Example 6:
  • 在国家公园的入口处，一个巨大的标语写着：“绿水青山就是金山银山”。
  • Pinyin: Zài guójiā gōngyuán de rùkǒu chù, yí ge jùdà de biāoyǔ xiě zhe: “lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān”.
  • English: At the entrance of the national park, a huge sign reads: “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: This highlights the slogan's very literal and visible presence in modern China as a form of public messaging.
• Example 7:
  • 我们不能再走先污染后治理的老路了，必须坚持绿水青山就是金山银山的发展理念。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùnéng zài zǒu xiān wūrǎn hòu zhìlǐ de lǎolù le, bìxū jiānchí lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān de fāzhǎn lǐniàn.
  • English: We can no longer follow the old path of polluting first and cleaning up later; we must adhere to the development philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly contrasts the new philosophy with the old, failed model, showing its role as a corrective principle.
• Example 8:
  • 央视新闻报道强调，绿水青山就是金山银山是指导我们未来工作的核心思想之一。
  • Pinyin: Yāngshì xīnwén bàodào qiángdiào, lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān shì zhǐdǎo wǒmen wèilái gōngzuò de héxīn sīxiǎng zhī yī.
  • English: The CCTV news report emphasized that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” is one of the core ideas guiding our future work.
  • Analysis: Shows how state media reinforces the importance and centrality of the slogan. `核心思想 (héxīn sīxiǎng)` means “core ideology/thought.”
• Example 9:
  • 放弃这个项目吧，它会破坏我们的环境。别忘了，绿水青山就是金山银山。
  • Pinyin: Fàngqì zhège xiàngmù ba, tā huì pòhuài wǒmen de huánjìng. Bié wàng le, lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān.
  • English: Let's give up on this project; it will destroy our environment. Don't forget, lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.
  • Analysis: A slightly less formal, more direct application of the slogan as a justification for a decision, used in a serious discussion among colleagues or community members.
• Example 10:
  • 老师告诉学生们，保护环境不仅仅是责任，也是在创造财富，因为绿水青山就是金山银山。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gàosù xuéshēngmen, bǎohù huánjìng bùjǐnjǐn shì zérèn, yě shì zài chuàngzào cáifù, yīnwèi lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān.
  • English: The teacher told the students that protecting the environment is not just a responsibility but is also creating wealth, because “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how the concept is taught to the next generation, framing it as a fundamental truth.

• Mistake 1: Treating it as just a poetic phrase.
  • A common mistake for learners is to hear the beautiful imagery and think it's just a general, poetic call to love nature. It's not. It is a specific economic theory and political directive. The emphasis is on the `就是 (jiù shì)`—the direct equivalence. The core message is that environmental health is a prerequisite for long-term economic prosperity.
• Mistake 2: Thinking it means abandoning industry.
  • This phrase is not anti-development. It's a call for a different kind of development. It doesn't mean “no more factories,” but rather “no more polluting factories.” The nuance is about transforming the economic model from a resource-intensive one to a knowledge-based, green one. An incorrect interpretation would be to use it to argue against all industrial projects.
• Mistake 3: Using it in casual, small-scale contexts.
  • You wouldn't use this grand, national-level slogan to talk about your backyard garden. For example, saying *“I planted some flowers, truly `绿水青山就是金山银山`!”* would sound strange and over-the-top. The phrase operates at the level of a community, a province, or the nation as a whole. It's about public policy, not personal gardening.

• 生态文明 (shēngtài wénmíng) - Ecological Civilization. This is the broader ideological framework, promoted by Xi Jinping, of which the “Two Mountains Theory” is a core component.
• 可持续发展 (kěchíxù fāzhǎn) - Sustainable Development. The more internationally recognized, technical term for the same general idea.
• 美丽中国 (měilì zhōngguó) - Beautiful China. A related national goal and slogan focusing on creating a pleasant living environment for all citizens, closely tied to ecological health.
• 环境保护 (huánjìng bǎohù) - Environmental Protection. The general term for the actions taken to achieve the vision of “绿水青山”.
• 天人合一 (tiān rén hé yī) - Oneness of Heaven and Humanity. A classical Taoist concept about living in harmony with the natural world, providing a deep cultural root for modern environmentalist ideas.
• 先污染后治理 (xiān wūrǎn hòu zhìlǐ) - Pollute first, govern (clean up) later. The old development model that “绿水青山就是金山银山” was created to directly oppose and replace.
• 绿水青山 (lǜ shuǐ qīng shān) - Green waters and lush mountains. A stand-alone phrase used to describe a pristine, beautiful natural landscape.
• 金山银山 (jīn shān yín shān) - Gold mountains and silver mountains. A stand-alone idiom meaning immense wealth.