In the remote high-altitude reaches of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, a team of environmental engineers is rewriting the playbook for preserving one of Asia's most critical ecosystems. Yu Wenhao, project manager of an intelligent monitoring platform in Sanjiangyuan National Park, recently led a grueling expedition to Mount Geladaindong—the source of the Yangtze River—to install vital environmental monitoring infrastructure.
Last October, Yu and 20 team members navigated 120 kilometers of roadless terrain over two days, guided by local experts through the Nagqu city glaciers. Their mission: erect a 15-meter monitoring tower at 5,300 meters above sea level while minimizing ecological disruption. "We moved carefully with local guidance," Yu explained, "following strict protocols approved by authorities to protect this fragile environment."
The Tangbei area project represents Xizang's latest push to balance technological innovation with traditional ecological knowledge. As climate change accelerates glacial retreat across the Tibetan Plateau, such monitoring stations provide crucial data for managing water resources affecting nearly 40% of Asia's population.
