In September 2002, Mr. Liang Congjie, Chairman of Friends of Nature, wrote an inscription for Hong Zhao when he visited Hengshui Lake: "Children of Zhao Yan, the sky is magical". After Hong Zhao's deeds were reported by the media, He Shaocun, the former vice governor of Hebei Province, personally instructed him to call on the propaganda department of the whole province to publicize Hong Zhao with great fanfare, learn from Comrade Hong Zhao, and strive to be a Hong Zhao-style environmental defender. In 2002, Hong Zhao won the "Talent Award" jointly awarded by the World Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the China Land Light Organizing Committee.
In 2003, Hong Zhao won the gold medal of China Youth Volunteer Activities awarded by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League. In the same year, the Hebei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League awarded her the honorary title of "Top Ten Outstanding Youth in Hebei Province";
In 2005, Zhao Yong, secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Youth League Central Committee, wrote an inscription for Hong Zhao when he inspected the work concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers in Hengshui: "Spreading green civilization and promoting a harmonious society".
In 2005, with the joint efforts of volunteers, the association won the internationally renowned Ford Motor Environmental Protection Award.
In 2006, Hong Zhao won the eighth "Earth Award", which is the highest environmental protection award awarded by the State Environmental Protection Administration and the Environmental Technology Association.