Water samples collected by team members from the upper reaches of the Wei River
Recently, 21 student volunteers from Northwestern Polytechnical University set out from Weiyuan County in Gansu Province, the source of the Wei River, to Tongguan County in Shaanxi Province, hiking over 240 kilometers over 15 days to comprehensively document the current state of the Wei River.
On the afternoon of August 4th at the Tang West Market, the students who had returned from the survey placed seven bottles of water samples they had collected along the way on the hand-drawn map they created. The bottles, ranging in color from light yellow to brownish-red, mostly came from the upper reaches of the Wei River—including a light yellow sample from Weiyuan County and a clay-colored one from Gangu County. The flat map suddenly took on a three-dimensional feel, delivering a powerful visual impact. “Overall, the water quality of the Wei River has improved,” Dong Zhihao, a Northwestern Polytechnical University student and volunteer on the Wei River survey, told reporters. Due to low precipitation in the upper reaches, the Wei River carries a high sediment load, giving the water a yellowish hue. Nevertheless, compared to previous years, the river’s water quality has significantly improved.
In Gangu County, Gansu Province, Dong Zhihao and his team discovered a discharge outlet releasing purple wastewater with a foul odor, which turned out to be from an ink factory.
“Industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, and agricultural pollution are the main factors affecting the water quality of the Wei River,” Dong Zhihao said. Through their limited inspection of the river, the team found over 30 discharge outlets along the way, with wastewater appearing black, purple, or brown. Some of these outlets discharged waste openly, while others were hidden in the grass. Meanwhile, rural domestic sewage from towns and villages along the river often flows directly or indirectly into the Wei River. On a 1.1m × 6m hand-drawn map created by the team after the survey, over 30 discharge outlets and more than 10 sand mining sites were clearly marked, providing a visual representation of the Wei River’s condition along its entire length.
During the survey, Dong Zhihao and his teammates observed that the vegetation cover along the main channel of the Wei River in the Shaanxi section was in good condition, with lush protective forests along some riverbanks. From Meixian County in Baoji City westward to downtown Baoji, the riverbanks were beautified with artificial greenery, creating beautiful scenery. They also noted that counties along the river, such as Meixian in Baoji, are developing riverside parks. In line with the goals of “unobstructed flood flow, solid embankments, clear water, green banks, and beautiful scenery,” the comprehensive management of the Wei River in the Xi’an section has achieved positive results. The Wei River has become a solid flood control barrier and a green scenic corridor for the Guanzhong region.
In the upper reaches of the Wei River, villagers told the survey team that vegetation along both banks of the river has noticeably increased over the past two years.
Experienced earthquakes and mudslides, yet the team chose to persevere
The Wei River is 818 kilometers long. The students traveled to cities and counties along the river by foot, train, or bus, covering over 240 kilometers on foot. To stay on schedule and see as much of the river as possible, the students woke up at 6 a.m. every day and worked until 11 p.m.
“During this activity, we experienced earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, road collapses, blocked roads, and sub-zero temperatures...” said Du Guanggan from Northwestern Polytechnical University. In just half a month, they endured days carrying backpacks weighing 30–40 kilograms and walking for 14 hours straight, times when they had no place to sleep—staying at construction sites, elementary schools, and parks—and meals consisting mostly of steamed buns and pickled vegetables. There were even times when the whole team faced water shortages.
On July 25th, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the Wei River, the students prepared to hike along the river. It had rained in the days prior, making the roads slippery. Early in the morning, the participants set off with heavy backpacks. The journey from Gangu to Weinan Town spanned over 40 kilometers, with half of it being mountainous and extremely difficult terrain. The Wei River was in its flood season, with strong currents, and landslides occurred frequently along the surrounding mountains, posing many potential dangers to the team’s progress. However, the students did not turn back and finally arrived at Weinan Town at 11 p.m.
Du Guanggan said that along the way, they continuously promoted environmental awareness and the importance of protecting the Wei River to schools and villages along the river. Through this activity, he and his teammates deeply realized the significance of Wei River environmental protection and expressed their willingness to participate in similar activities in the future to witness every change in the river.