Abstract:

The concept that ”lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” is the core idea of Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought. The birth of this concept is rooted in a specific historical background and is characterized by three major contradictions: the contradiction between rapid economic growth and the limited supply of resources as well as low resource utilization efficiency; the contradiction between the expansion of economic aggregate and the intensification of environmental pollution along with the limited environmental capacity; and the contradiction between residents' growing demand for a beautiful environment and the shrinking supply of such an environment. The concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” reflects an upward trend in people's needs, a people-centered development philosophy, and the evolution of the primary social contradictions. This concept has significant epistemological, methodological, and practical value in the new era. It guides the theoretical and practical achievements of China's ecological civilization construction through historic, transformative, and comprehensive changes. As it continues to guide the building of China, it will also set an example for other countries in the world.

Key words: lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, era logic, era trend, era value