Seventeen years ago, there were only two swans along the Emin River in Xinjiang's Tacheng Prefecture. Today, their numbers have grown to over 180, transforming the area into a thriving "Swan Bay" which draws out crowds of visitors keen to see these elegant birds. 

This turnaround is largely down to the efforts of local man Illyar Ily, who went from protecting them on his own to forming a dedicated team and later inspiring the entire community to join in. Ily has devoted himself to safeguarding these graceful creatures with love and perseverance and has pledged to continue his protection work, hoping the next generations will carry on his legacy.