"Welcome to the source of the Yellow River.
Here, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, the air is filled with the fragrance of the grassland. This river has witnessed the generations of the Chinese people. The Yellow River Basin carries the comprehensive value of important water resources, energy, food, and ecology, closely linked to the development pulse of nine provinces along the way and other regions benefiting from its resources.
After the proposal of the ecological protection and high-quality development strategy in the Yellow River Basin, more and more people have connected their work and life to the green and low-carbon transformation of the Yellow River Basin. From the source to the downstream, there are herders guarding their grassland homes, park managers achieving a win-win situation for the environment and economy, energy workers actively transitioning with the times, and new farmers exploring scientific planting methods. Through the stories of these characters, we can catch a glimpse of the quiet and profound changes taking place in the Yellow River Basin. People from different regions and backgrounds unknowingly participate in the collaborative comprehensive transformation of the entire basin, reshaping the Yellow River into a more harmonious and beautiful new appearance.
In this Beautiful Yellow River environmental propaganda exhibition, Dejie, Malechuan, Hao Xiangyang, and Tian Youmai from different places in the Yellow River Basin invite the audience to help them make transformation choices. These four characters are born out of our team's past research and the observed cases of basin transformation, as well as from the vivid portraits of people in the process of basin transformation. It is the countless ordinary people like them, striving upward in the process of transformation, that propel the wheels of the era forward. We hope they are not only the questioners in the exhibition, but through their character profiles, showcase the stories of ordinary people to a wider audience from a micro perspective."
"01. "New Farmer" Tian Youmai
The "New Farmer" Plants the "Prosperous Farming Dream""
"My name is Tian Youmai, I'm twenty-five years old, and I live in Sishui County, Jining, Shandong. This area is an important farming region downstream of the Yellow River, and wheat is the main staple crop. Several generations of my family have made a living by growing wheat, and my father is a typical farmer who faces the yellow earth with his back to the sky. When I was a child, he used to carry me on his shoulders, weaving through the golden wheat fields. The wind would sweep the waves of wheat, resembling a golden sea.
As I grew older, my father started teaching me how to farm, hands-on. By October, we could start planting, and the growth cycle of wheat is quite predictable. In terms of personality, I inherited the loyalty to the land that flows in the blood of my ancestors, taking pride in the wheat of my hometown."
"About ten years ago, the weather in October started to get warmer, seriously affecting the growth of wheat. Since then, every year, my father and I had to adjust the planting time based on the conditions, sometimes even waiting until mid to late November. At the same time, the wheat's greening period came earlier, and the heading period was delayed. Our traditional experience became ineffective, and the yield decreased. It was later that I learned this was called climate change.
The occurrence of extreme weather also damaged the wheat production on our farm. In the past few years, several snow disasters resulted in a reduction of over 30% in wheat production. My father cherished his wheat a lot and stubbornly squatted in the field, trying to salvage the situation. I watched him, beside the swaying ears of wheat with insufficient grains, a sense of powerlessness surging up within me."
"The onslaught of climate change made me realize that continuing to farm using the old methods my father taught me was no longer viable. Therefore, for my college entrance exam, I chose to major in agricultural engineering, hoping to give back to my hometown.
Through four years of university studies, I came to appreciate modern production methods that focus on new concepts, new technologies, and new equipment. I aspired to become one of the first "new farmers" dedicated to promoting the development of ecological agriculture in my hometown.
After graduating from a prestigious university, I gave up a well-paying job in the city and returned to my hometown to farm. Armed with knowledge and technology, I cultivated wheat, achieving stable yields and good quality, earning favor from grain companies. Last year, in response to the trend of internet consumption, I registered an agricultural product brand, adopting a comprehensive online and offline sales model, and indeed, the sales increased significantly. However, after a while, there was a trend of stagnation or even decline.
So, after collecting a lot of data and conducting surveys, interviews, seeking advice from experts, and conducting comparative research, I found that consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of grains when making selections. Producing genuinely high-quality organic grains might open up new avenues for my brand."
"Firstly, under the guidance of agricultural technicians, I selected new varieties of wheat that are resistant to drought, cold, and flooding. I adjusted and strictly controlled the planting density and time while increasing the application of organic fertilizer to improve soil quality. Although these measures increased costs, the results were significant, with a preliminary improvement in the quality and yield of wheat.
To reduce some costs, I implemented measures such as mulching and straw cover to reduce soil moisture evaporation and nutrient loss. This helped lower irrigation and fertilization requirements, saving a considerable amount of water. It also reduced pollution and loss of soil, making it a suitable water resource management method for our area."
"In addition to these efforts, I am currently studying various aspects of standardized management and regularly engage in discussions with other small-scale farmers. In this era, understanding climate change and mastering technology are crucial to establishing a solid foothold in the current grain market.
I believe that through the efforts of us "new farmers," agriculture in our hometown can thrive despite climate change. Our grains can not only ensure safety but also meet market demands, truly achieving the unity of rural economic, environmental, and social benefits."
"02. Transitioning Miner Hao Xiangyang
Stepping out of the mine, embracing the sunlight"
"My name is Hao Xiangyang, and I live in Shanxi Province, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. I've been in Shanxi since I was 20, so I consider myself half a Shanxi native. I'm a rough person and don't have much education. Due to the high demand for personnel in Shanxi's mining areas under the national energy supply guarantee policy, I came here to work as a coal miner. I've been doing this job for 16 years, and I've made some progress. In recent years, I was promoted to be a key member of my team."
"A coal miner's day is quite simple—going down the mine, coming up, eating, and sleeping in the dormitory. Once underground, all you see are long, dark tunnels. The headlamps on everyone's helmets shine like stars.
Watching TV is my main way to relax during my off-duty hours. When I saw the news mentioning that ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin have become a major national strategy, and that low-carbon transformation in energy is to be the focus of future work in the Yellow River Basin, I thought about the future of coal mining. If coal mines are no longer the main source of energy and gradually shut down, the coal industry is bound to be impacted. What about the employment of us workers?
During that period, my colleagues were all a bit worried. I thought that although layoffs might not happen in the short term, it might be time to consider a career change for the long term. After working in the coal mine for almost half of my life, the idea of changing careers made me a bit nervous.
I heard that some subsided coal mine areas have started building photovoltaic power stations. The country attaches great importance to ecological protection and the development of renewable energy, which may be the future trend.
I shared my thoughts with my wife and daughter, and they all supported me in leaving behind the life of a coal miner and finding a job with better development prospects and lower risk. Over the years, because of working underground, I haven't been able to spend enough time with them. This decision allows me to fulfill my wish to be with my family more, and I am determined to make the change."
"For someone like me who spent almost half of his life in a coal mine, learning new skills from scratch was a bit challenging, but I gritted my teeth and persevered. Having a daily learning task made my routine less monotonous.
In December of last year, the photovoltaic power station established in the subsided coal mine area near my home was officially connected to the grid. Seizing this opportunity, I finally transitioned from underground to above ground and became a maintenance worker for a solar energy company. That day, when I returned home, my wife said she could finally sleep peacefully.
Working at the solar power station only requires responding to maintenance alerts indicated by the computer. In contrast, the previous maintenance personnel had to wander around, identifying areas in need of repair. It goes to show that technological innovation is crucial on the path of renewable energy development. It not only supports the high-quality and sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry but also brings practical convenience to our maintenance work."
"In the past, these abandoned mining areas were marred by severe environmental damage, with gullies crisscrossing the landscape. Now, tens of thousands of solar panels cover hundreds of acres of the former high-pit coal mining area. Seeing the improvement in the environment gives me a great sense of accomplishment.
Now, after nearly a year of working here, I gradually realize that constructing solar power stations is indeed one of the best paths for managing mines and restoring ecosystems. The combination of 'photovoltaic + mine reclamation' not only addresses the efficient use of land resources but also holds positive significance for ecological environmental governance.
Many of my former colleagues have also reached out to me, considering joining solar power stations for career development. This is a great opportunity that can help solve the employment challenges faced by us coal miners who have been laid off. The feeling under the sunlight is truly wonderful."
"03. Transition Catalyst Ma Lechuan
Environmental Economy, Building a Win-Win Future"
"My name is Ma Lechuan, and my hometown is located in Ordos, upstream of the Yellow River. As an industrial hub, this area has densely populated traditional industrial zones. Just last year, I took on the leadership role in one of the traditional industrial zones in Ordos.
This appointment was a significant recognition of my years of hard work, but I am well aware of the challenges that come with managing such a large industrial zone. Before taking office, I began researching the transformation paths for traditional industrial zones, contemplating how to lead the zone towards a path of higher quality and sustainable development.
The industrial zone I took over boasts excellent location and natural resource advantages. Initially focused on developing traditional manufacturing, the zone aimed to drive economic development through industrial growth. However, after years of extensive development, issues such as inadequate environmental carrying capacity became increasingly prominent."
"For many years, industrial zones have prioritized economic benefits. However, now, in the pursuit of development, enterprises within the zone exhibit a stronger willingness for low-carbon development than ever before. An increasing number of industrial products require carbon footprint tracking, and high carbon-emission products are losing competitiveness.
I realized that we couldn't continue down the same old path. It's urgent to reverse the situation of high energy consumption and low resource utilization, especially for an industrial zone located near the Yellow River. Low-carbon transformation is imperative.
Therefore, after taking office, I decided to lead the team in developing a green transformation plan tailored to the internal and external conditions of the industrial zone.
We first conducted visits and research on industrial zones that had successfully undergone local transformations. Drawing inspiration from their experiences and following principles such as the minimum investment for the maximum carbon reduction, we formulated a comprehensive long-term low-carbon development plan based on various system indicators and the actual situation in our production processes."
"To ensure the implementation of the plan, I also established a series of supporting measures to promptly identify and address issues during the execution period. The higher authorities have provided technical and financial support for this, and it has gained recognition from a wide range of vendors and employees.
Of course, transformation is not an overnight process. I learned from other transitioning zones that they are planning to enter the zero-carbon ranks, and the foundation of a zero-carbon industrial zone is having a zero-carbon or low-carbon energy supply system. Therefore, they are no longer adding coal consumption quotas and are converting coal boilers in some zone enterprises to centralized biomass energy supply.
In addition, during the operation, there must be energy storage systems as support, coupled with an intelligent digital technology management system. Therefore, technological innovation is undoubtedly the top priority for the zone's transformation. Addressing the contradictions between traditional and emerging industries and achieving a win-win situation for environmental protection and economic benefits are also key focuses of our transformation."
"Over the past year, we have overcome numerous challenges, and the results of the transformation in our industrial park are significant. The concept of green development has gradually taken root. Today, this once traditional industrial zone has renewed vitality. Not only have we optimized some production processes, but economic benefits have also significantly improved. Even as we engage in industrial production along the banks of the Yellow River, we can contribute to the ecological protection and high-quality sustainable development of the region.
Feel free to visit and exchange ideas in our industrial park. I need to check the drainage situation of the various enterprises in the park now. Enough chatting; I have to go see how the companies in the park are managing their wastewater."
"04. College Student Duo Jie from the Pastoral Area
Respecting Nature, Sustaining the Economy for the People"
"Yellow River's water keeps flowing, flowing past homes, flowing past Lanzhou. Distant relatives, listen to me sing the Yellow River ballad." When this song played on the university radio station, my thoughts returned to my hometown, thousands of miles away.
My name is Duo Jie, and my home is beneath the various postures of the Bayan Har Mountains, at the northern foot of the Qinghai Province. It's located in the upstream source area of the Yellow River, and for generations, my family has been nomadic, dwelling by the water and grass.
The Yellow River source, where the vegetation flourishes and the water is crystal clear, has countless lakes of various sizes and shapes on both sides. After passing through a canyon of over 100 kilometers and converging with the Bayan Obo Mountains and the Yegu Zonglie River, it forms the initial Maqu River, which flows eastward into Zhaling Lake and Erling Lake.
When I was a child, my grandmother told me that nature must be revered, as all our primitive memories and instincts flow within it and must be returned to nature. However, later on, the ecological environment in the pastoral areas deteriorated, vast grasslands disappeared, and horses had to travel far to find enough grass. The glaciers and lakes that used to stretch as far as the eye could see in my memories were shrinking, and sightings of wildlife became scarce.
My father's smile faded, often staring at the bare areas absentmindedly, sighing. When my little sister was born, my father named her Qing Cuo, which means "green lake" in Chinese."
"I am the first college student in my family to leave the pastoral area. It was only after leaving my hometown that I gradually understood my grandmother's teachings and my father's sighs: they hoped to see the prosperity of the past return to our hometown. What could I do? I joined environmental volunteer activities organized by campus groups, attempting to find answers there.
During these activities, I learned a lot about the Yellow River Basin. I found out that the Yellow River's source, often called the 'Water Tower of China,' actually has a fragile ecosystem. Overgrazing combined with climate change has led to the deterioration of the natural environment in the basin, a decline in water conservation functions, grassland degradation, severe soil erosion, shrinking of Zhaling Lake and Erling Lake, temporary cessation of the Yellow River flow, and issues with water quality and supply.
I believe that to fundamentally improve the current situation in the upstream source area of the Yellow River, we first need to make more herders aware that taking practical actions to protect and utilize natural resources can help restore the area to its former glory.
The 'Ecological Culture Expedition' propaganda team was born. During the summer, we returned to our hometown to visit households and collect survey data. The results showed that herders in the Yellow River source area heavily rely on grasslands, and the industrial structure in the source area is monotonous. Factors such as herders' education level, awareness of collective grazing, and economic income all limit the ecological awareness of herders."
Based on this, my group of volunteers and I tirelessly promoted the idea of strengthening herder skills training, improving cultural literacy, encouraging small and medium-sized herders to participate in collective operations, and diversifying income sources to increase herder income.
The response to the activities was excellent, and by the second year, more volunteers joined. Students from various regions used their holidays to delve into the source of the Yellow River and conduct classes. Even my father and mother entered the classroom to learn about ecological conservation.
As the holiday season drew to a close this year, herders in my hometown had spontaneously formed grassroots organizations, passing on knowledge about ecological issues in the Yellow River Basin and grassland degradation. They took action to upgrade the livestock industry.
On the day of my departure, my father, mother, and little sister came to see me off, this time with smiles. I understood that the environmental awareness campaign in the Yellow River Basin is a long and challenging journey. After all, the source of the Yellow River not only affects the livelihoods of herders but also concerns the ecological security of regions downstream.
This weekend, the Beautiful Yellow River Environmental Protection Exhibition will temporarily come to a close. We appreciate everyone's active participation. Over the past half month, both on-site and through online feedback, we have heard numerous touching stories. All of these prove that the collaborative and comprehensive transformation of the Yellow River Basin is a topic of the times worth delving into and spreading to a wider audience.
After the exhibition concludes, we will continue along this mother river, joining more partners to safeguard our home, practice green living, and pass on a sustainable future. We will pay attention to every golden ear of grain cultivated by the "Tian Youmai" and hope to assist managers like "Ma Lechuan" in continuing to lead the trend of sustainable development.
Note: "Tian Youmai," "Hao Xiangyang," "Ma Lechuan," and "Duo Jie" are fictional characters created for the interactive gaming segment of the exhibition.
