China's national parks see growing population of key wildlife species

China has made huge progress in the construction of national parks over the past three years, notably with the growing populations of key wildlife species.

Saturday marks the third anniversary since the establishment of the first batch of national parks in China.

Spanning a protected land area of 230,000 square km, these parks, namely Sanjiangyuan National Park, the Giant Panda National Park, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and Wuyishan National Park, are home to nearly 30 percent of the country's key terrestrial wildlife species.

At the Giant Panda National Park, which spans three provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi and Sichuan, the population of giant pandas in the wild has risen to around 1,900 with the implementation of a series of protective measures. Additionally, over 8,000 species of plants and animals, including golden monkey, snow leopard, yew, are also well-protected within the national park.

Situated in northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park spans over 14,000 square km.

The latest monitoring data shows that the number of Siberian tiger and Amur leopards in the park has increased from 27 and 42 at beginning of trial operations in 2017, to around 70 and 80, respectively.

The park has also traced eight tiger families and ten leopard families inside the park, and is seeing a clear upward trend in cubs survival rate.

"A mother tiger with three cubs has an energy requirement nearly twice that of an adult male tiger. Only when prey is abundant can female tigers and leopards reproduce successfully. It is precisely because of the stable breeding of these tiger and leopard families that their populations continue to grow rapidly," said Kong Weiyao, a researcher of the Scientific Research and Monitoring Office of Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.

The population of Tibetan antelopes and snow leopards at Sanjiangyuan National Park has risen to more than 70,000 and 1,200, respectively. Meanwhile, the population of Hainan gibbons, a rare primate that lives in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, had risen to 42 from less than ten in four decades.

Over the past three years, the diversity, stability, and sustainability of China's ecosystems have steadily improved. At Sanjiangyuan National Park, the source areas of Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers are well-preserved with the improvement in general ecology and environment quality.

The past three years also saw the construction of a batch of livelihood projects including ecological relocation and the building of model villages. Nearly 50,000 residents have been employed as ecological conservators to help the construction and operation of national parks.

"A number of major livelihood projects have been implemented alongside with the construction of the national parks, so people's income is increasing and people's sense of gain and happiness has been enhanced," said Zhang Limin, Director of the Nature Reserve Management Department of National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

China's national parks see growing population of key wildlife species

As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.

With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.

In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.

Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.

"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.

In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.

Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."

The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.

According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.

In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.

Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.

"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.

Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival