At 68, Huang Chengde has transformed his journalistic curiosity into a lifelong mission to protect China's iconic Yellow River. Since 1997, the former environmental reporter has trekked over 5,000 kilometers along the 'Mother River,' documenting ecological changes and mobilizing communities through nine provincial-level regions.
From the Tibetan Plateau's headwaters to Shandong's alluvial plains, Huang's boots-on-the-ground approach has captured both the river's majesty and vulnerability. His annual expeditions evolved into the Yellow River Guardians initiative, which has engaged over 15,000 volunteers in reforestation and pollution monitoring projects.
"This river witnessed the birth of Chinese civilization," Huang told KhabarAsia. "Now it needs us to return the favor." His newly launched podcast series The Yellow River Mosaic combines historical narratives with contemporary ecological insights, bridging generations of river stewardship.
Academics credit Huang's work with informing recent policy changes in the Chinese mainland's river basin management strategy. Meanwhile, his photo exhibitions in Hong Kong and Macao have reconnected diaspora communities with their ancestral landscapes.
