Herder ensures 'mother' is safe
'First guardian' protects environment at Yellow River source in Qinghai
Editor's note: This year, the People's Republic of China celebrates its 75th anniversary, marking a crucial year for achieving the goals and tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). China Daily is publishing a visual series focusing on the high-quality development of various fields, capturing the process of Chinese-style modernization through photographic images. This week, we are highlighting a herder's family who lives at the source area of the Yellow River.
Often referred to as a "mother river" by Chinese people, the Yellow River frequently impresses sightseers with its grandeur.
Yet at its source area in Qumarleb county, Qinghai province, the scene looks vastly different. Here, the water that feeds the mighty Yellow River is just a creek, where streams gurgle through the ground.
This is the place where Karchug resides.
The 37-year-old Tibetan herder's family has lived a mere 3 kilometers away from the river's source, at Yoigilangleb Basin, for generations. At 4 am each day, Sodnamkyi, Karchug's elder sister, goes to the river to collect water for the family and their yaks.