Braving intermittent rain and hail, a group of volunteers trudged along the mountain path toward the base camp of Mount Muztagata, known as the “Father of Glaciers.” Their mission was not to conquer the snow-capped peak, but to clean up the household waste around the base camp and restore the glacier’s pristine beauty.
Undaunted by the challenges, we are on the road
In early August, the Communist Youth League Committee of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Youth Magazine, and Amway Xinjiang Branch publicly recruited volunteers to travel to the 4,500-meter-high base camp of Mount Muztagata. Their tasks included collecting litter and establishing a permanent landmark at the base camp called the “Environmental Protection Monument,” to commemorate the ongoing environmental efforts by the people of Xinjiang.
On August 23, after undergoing rigorous physical examinations, 40 volunteers gathered at the foot of Mount Muztagata from various locations. They brought with them outdoor gear such as tents, sleeping bags, cold-weather clothing, trekking poles, as well as nearly 100 garbage bags and a large number of school supplies donated for local ethnic minority children. Reporters accompanying the group observed that the volunteers ranged from a retiree nearing 60 years old to an eight-year-old child just starting third grade. As soon as they arrived, they got to work. At the high-altitude transition and acclimatization camp at the foot of the mountain, amid lush grasslands, the volunteers collected a significant amount of household waste.
Due to the steep terrain and thin air, the volunteers experienced considerable physical strain. Affected by the harsh natural conditions—intense cold, strong winds, oxygen deprivation, and low atmospheric pressure—most volunteers suffered from headaches, flushed faces, purple lips, and nausea. Nevertheless, they encouraged and supported each other along the way, crossed multiple rivers, and persevered until reaching the base camp.
Upon arriving at the base camp, the weather suddenly turned grim, with hailstones the size of green beans and rain pouring down. Faced with both high-altitude oxygen scarcity and a hail assault, the volunteers relied solely on their physical strength and determination to clean up plastic bags, beer bottles, beverage cans, and other refuse discarded by mountaineers and tourists over recent years. Each bending motion to pick up trash became a dual test of willpower and endurance. At this moment, this team of Amway volunteers not only carried the expectations of many, but also bore the responsibility of the people of Xinjiang to care for their homeland through action.
During the two-day peak-cleaning environmental protection campaign, nearly 40 volunteers from across Xinjiang overcame altitude sickness symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting. They collected over 700 kilograms of various types of household waste, including plastic bags, cardboard boxes, beverage bottles, and beer cans, and transported these materials back to Kashgar City for centralized disposal.
True Love for Our Home – We Are Taking Action
Established in 1996, the Xinjiang Volunteers Association has consistently upheld the volunteer spirit of “dedication, friendship, mutual aid, and progress,” actively working across the Tianshan Mountains. The association has made selfless contributions in numerous fields, including rural biogas projects in Xinjiang, Mandarin training for rural youth, youth civilization initiatives, environmental protection, community services, poverty alleviation, and the Western Plan for university student volunteer services, achieving remarkable results and becoming a vital force in building a harmonious society. The Amway Volunteer Team is one of the active groups, having organized and participated in numerous environmental public welfare activities in Xinjiang.
The youngest volunteer, eight-year-old Guoguo, also climbed to the base camp of Mount Muztagata with his father. “I used to just throw away drink bottles, but now I know that can harm the environment around us. I won’t litter anymore. When I go back to school, I’ll tell my classmates to protect our environment by starting with small things around us—like not littering,” Guoguo told reporters earnestly.
Mewlan, head of the Amway (China) Daily Necessities Co., Ltd. Kashgar Branch, stated that engaging in public welfare is a tradition for the company. Caring about people’s livelihoods and giving back to society is not just a philosophy, but also reflects the collective strength of society. Protecting the environment we rely on requires the joint efforts of the entire society and all ethnic groups. He emphasized that we must take positive action to embody the true meaning of life.