A team of researchers embarked on a scientific expedition to Mount Anyemaqen in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Tuesday, aiming to decode the ecological challenges facing the headwaters of the Yellow River — a lifeline for millions across northern China. The mission, organized by the Sanjiangyuan Ecological Protection Foundation and Qinghai Normal University, underscores China's heightened focus on balancing ecological protection with water security amid global warming.
Mount Anyemaqen, located in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, hosts over 40 glaciers that feed the Yellow River's source lakes. Researchers will track retreating glaciers, permafrost degradation, and shifting water patterns to inform restoration strategies. 'Glacier tongues here are retreating faster than anticipated,' said Professor Hou Guangliang of Qinghai Normal University. 'This expedition could rewrite our understanding of cryosphere dynamics in Asia.'
Covering 100+ sq km of ice, these glaciers act as natural reservoirs sustaining the 5,464 km-long Yellow River, which flows through nine provincial regions before reaching the Bohai Sea. Data from the mission will guide policies to protect biodiversity and stabilize water supplies for agriculture and industries downstream.
The initiative aligns with China's growing investment in climate resilience, blending traditional conservation practices with advanced glacier monitoring technologies. Findings are expected to benefit international efforts to study high-altitude ecosystems under stress.
