On January 1, about 580 hiking enthusiasts gathered by China’s largest inland lake, Qinghai Lake, to welcome the New Year through hiking and litter-picking activities.
At around 7:30 a.m., the hikers set off from the Party School of the Qinghai Provincial Committee and, after approximately a two-hour drive, arrived at the first stop of the event—Kilometer 2095 of National Highway 109 by Qinghai Lake—where they began diligently picking up litter along the roadside, doing their small part to beautify Qinghai Lake on the first day of the New Year.
At 11:30 a.m., the 100-person hiking event officially commenced. After collectively reciting the ecological and environmental protection initiative “Protecting Qinghai Lake, We Are in Action,” more than 580 hiking enthusiasts embarked on a 13-kilometer “long trek” starting from the entrance of the Er Lang Jian Scenic Area at Qinghai Lake. The youngest participant was just 9 years old, while the oldest had passed the age of 70. Everyone supported and encouraged one another, braved the bitter cold, and remained committed to welcoming the New Year through walking. Yan Ying, a middle school teacher who specially came from Lanzhou to take part, repeatedly said it was “an experience well worth it.”
According to Shi Xiaohua, a staff member of the event, the New Year’s Day hiking activity by Qinghai Lake is being held for the first time. She hopes such environmentally themed events can continue in the future, allowing more people to participate. While showcasing the beauty of Qinghai Lake, the activities also provide participants with exercise and raise awareness about the importance of the ecological environment and the need to engage in its protection.
Located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Lake is China’s largest inland saltwater lake and a crucial body of water for maintaining ecological security in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet region. It not only acts as a barrier to prevent desertification in the west from spreading eastward but is also one of the regions rich in biodiversity and germplasm genetic resources.
