As a significant biodiversity treasure in China, southwest China's Yunnan Province has been stepping up efforts to protect its wonderland where human and nature coexist harmoniously.
Asian elephants are classified as first-class protected animals in China. There are just over 300 of them, and they all live in Yunnan.
A key lab in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is set up to specifically study Asian elephants and the tropical rainforest they live in.
"We've done some in-depth investigations on the entire vegetation ecology of Yunnan's tropical rainforest, which has summarized the current situation of animals, plants and the whole ecosystem in the Asian elephant national park," said Yang Yongping, director of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Through dynamic monitoring and conservation studies on Asian elephants' population, the lab continues to promote the construction and scientific development of the Asian elephant national park.
"We've done researches on the relation between Asian elephants and humans, especially on the conflicts between them, Asian elephants' behaviors, habitat range, route, and how these are related to humans. Not only at home, we've also conducted studies on cross-border Asian elephants protection abroad," Yang said.
Yunnan has 151 kinds of wild plants and 242 species of wild animals, taking up 41 percent and 57.1 percent of China's totals respectively. That means it has played an important role in the construction of national ecological environment protection and ecological security system.
"In face of challenges on biodiversity protection, sustainable development and ecological security, the lab has been exploiting data resource of Yunnan's biodiversity in an all-round way. Now, we're able to carry out comprehensive trace and even predict the dynamic development of biodiversity," said Lyu Xuemei, director of the key lab of data information on southwest Yunnan Province and cross-border biodiversity.
Yunnan continues to step up efforts in biodiversity protection
Festive receptions were held by Chinese embassies to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival, with the promotional video for the 2025 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala unveiled to add festive atmosphere to the events.
The Spring Festival centers around the Chinese New Year, which lands on Jan. 29 this year, ushering in the Year of the Snake.
The Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan hosted a Spring Festival reception on Jan. 20 for overseas Chinese in Tajikistan. Nearly 300 people, including representatives of overseas Chinese groups such as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Tajikistan, the Federation of Overseas Chinese, teachers and students from the local Confucius Institute, and international students in Tajikistan, gathered to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Snake.
In his speech delivered at the reception, China's Ambassador to Tajikistan Ji Shumin said that China's high-quality development and high-level opening-up have injected certainty and stability into a turbulent and changing world. China-Tajikistan cooperation in various fields has been promoted across the board, and the development of bilateral relations has reached a new level. Looking forward to 2025, China-Tajikistan relations will shine with new vitality and bring more benefits to the people of both countries, said the ambassador.
The promotional video for the 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala was played in a loop at the reception. By watching the video, guests felt the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival and the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture.
At the reception, overseas Chinese in Tajikistan performed a variety of cultural programs created by themselves. The joyous lion dance, the melodious guzheng performance, and the passionate Tajik eagle dance added a great deal to the festive atmosphere.
The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the Federation of Philippine-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Philippine-Chinese Associations, and the Philippine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce jointly held a Spring Festival reception on Jan. 19. More than 1,000 people from the Philippine government, Congress, overseas Chinese, people from all walks of life, and foreign diplomatic envoys to the Philippines gathered to celebrate the festival.
Huang Xilian, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, extended New Year greetings to people from all walks of life in China and the Philippines, saying that the Spring Festival is a common festival for the people of many countries, including China and the Philippines, and has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. He said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines, and he hopes that both countries will cherish and maintain the bilateral relations for greater benefits to the people of the two countries.
Philippine Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and Louise Araneta-Marcos, wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., extended new year greetings via video link. Duterte said that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China is of great significance, and she looks forward to the two countries working together to create a harmonious and prosperous future. Marcos said that the Philippines-China relations have been developing continuously for decades, which truly reflects the long-term friendly relations between the people of the two countries.
The promotional video for the 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala was played at the reception. The festive atmosphere and gorgeous stage design attracted the attention of all the guests present.
Chinese embassies hold receptions to celebrate upcoming Spring Festival