In Depth: Scenic Yunnan Battles to Protect Its Lakes

On a sunny November day, Zhang Mei sat at a terrace on Changyao Mountain in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province in Southwest China.

At the foot of the mountain lies a protected segment of Dianchi Lake, where newly planted pine trees are still too small to cast shadows on the yellow-brown soil.

Just over six months ago, this area was packed with expensive villas. Not any more, as the buildings, deemed illegally constructed, have been demolished and replaced by plants.