Guangxi's stunning Jinshanhu Islands

The beauty of the Jinshanhu Islands has been captured in a series of aerial photographs taken in the first few days of 2017.

The islands in Yizhou, Hechi, are wondrous worlds of clear waters surrounded by thick forests. The beauty is partially thanks to a 350-million-yuan ($50.31 million) government initiative that has so far planted half a million new trees.

The efforts are part of a government scheme seeking to preserve Hechi's natural landscape while maintaining its tourism industry.

An aerial view of the Jinshanhu Islands in Yizhou, Hechi. The area has numerous popular tourist attractions and is located northwestern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]

As suggested by the name, the Jinshanhu Islands is dotted with small islands and continues to be popular with visitors. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]

The Jinshanhu Islands in Yizhou, Hechi, is a world of tranquility and beauty. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]

The river winds its way across the green landscape of the Jinshanhu Islands in Yizhou, Hechi. [Photo by Gao Dongfeng/Xinhua]