2026年是“十五五”规划实施的开局之年，也是确保美丽中国目标如期实现的关键之年。在这一重要历史节点，国际中国环境基金会(IFCE)迎来成立30周年。三十年来，我们以绿色为帆，以合作为桨，在国际环境合作、民间环保提升、清洁能源普及、生态环境保护、大气污染治理、国际气候对话和青年力量培养的征程上，留下了一串串坚实而珍贵的足迹。三十载风雨兼程，每一步前行都离不开各位顾问的引领、理事的洞见、合作伙伴的鼎力支持，以及朋友们的赤诚相伴。为展现中国社会高质量发展进程中，各地探索生态保护与经济发展共赢的创新路径与实践成果；通过具体案例与深度观察，传递对“人与自然和谐共生的现代化”的深刻认知，为协调发展提供文学视角的深入思考，在IFCE成立三十周年之际，我们与全美中文作家联谊会合作，发起本次纪念征文活动，诚邀各位同仁执笔抒怀，记录三十年来的生态变迁与奋斗故事，共筑人与自然和谐共生的未来图景！

 

一、征文主题

围绕“提升绿色发展能力，推动生态文明进程”核心主题，立足IFCE三十年来的发展历程、重要成就与实践探索，结合自身经历与感悟，自由选题，可聚焦但不限于以下方向：

 

1. 我与IFCE共守初心：讲述您与IFCE相伴的难忘瞬间、合作故事，回望三十年来与IFCE一同深耕环保、携手前行的历程，分享自身在环保实践中的成长与收获；讲述守护故事：刻画生态保护工作者、志愿者、普通民众参与环保实践的动人经历，挖掘讴歌新时代生态文明建设和生态环境保护工作中涌现的先进人物、典型故事，用情用力讲好中国生态环境保护故事。

 

2. 我与IFCE共鉴变迁：聚焦IFCE在中美环境合作、清洁能源推广、怒江生态守护、雾霾精准治理、国际气候对话等方面的标志性成就，畅谈生态环境保护的历程和时代变迁。书写生态文明建设伟大实践：记录和书写各地深入推进污染防治攻坚战，应对气候变化，开展“双碳”行动，建设美丽中国的生动故事。

 

3. 我与IFCE共赴未来：结合IFCE三十周年后的发展规划，围绕绿色技术创新、公众环保意识提升、国际合作拓展等方向，建言献策、畅想未来，传递对生态保护事业的坚定信念与美好期许。

 

4. 我与IFCE共传理念：分享您参与环保实践的感悟、绿色生活的践行经验，传递“人与自然和谐共生”的理念，呼吁更多人加入生态保护的行列，凝聚绿色发展的磅礴力量。以优美的笔触和艺术形式描绘美丽中国建设新画卷，展现身边可喜的生态变化和理念更新。

 

二、稿件要求

1. 文章体裁包含报告文学、散文、随笔、微小说。（诗歌除外）其中小说3000字以内，需以生态主题为核心线索，塑造鲜活人物与完整故事；报告文学不超过5000字，要求基于真实事件与人物，客观呈现生态保护领域的典型案例，兼具文学性与纪实性；散文篇幅2000—3000字，注重情感真挚与细节质感，可结合个人亲历的自然观察或生态实践。

 

2.文章应主题鲜明，内容需紧扣IFCE三十周年发展背景，结合自身经历，真实、生动地展现三十年来的生态变迁、合作情谊与坚守精神。

3.作品须为原创，严禁抄袭、剽窃，未公开发表过（包括网络平台、报刊等）。征文作品的著作权归作者所有，主办方享有作品的使用权（包括但不限于汇编出版、线上线下展览、媒体宣传推广等），使用时将注明作者姓名；主办方对本次征文活动拥有最终解释权，凡投稿作者均视为已阅读并同意本启事全部条款并遵守相关规定。

 

4.可附带与文章内容相关的照片、活动现场照片等（须清晰可辨），并注明照片拍摄时间、地点及关背景说明，一同发送至投稿邮箱。

 

5 不接受人工智能（AI）生成作品，包括使用AI工具生成全文、核心情节、关键段落等，由此产生的一切后果（如版权纠纷、名誉损失、取消参评资格等）由作者自行承担。

 

6. 截稿日期：2026年4月22日

 

三、投稿方式

请以电子邮件附件的形式提交，邮件主题为“征文+文章题目+姓名+联系方式”，联系人：李静13265643144，投稿邮箱：annili2008@163.com

 

四、征文传播

所有征文都将在IFCE社交平台上发表（微信，微博，网站等），优秀的文章作者将被邀请参加六月份在上海举行的IFCE三十周年纪念活动，同时文章将被载入IFCE三十周年纪念画册，并赠送纪念品，作家评审团评选3-5篇“最佳故事奖”，在纪念活动上颁发。全美中国作家联谊会对符合征文要求的应征作品进行展登，择优在海内外五十多家媒体一并刊发。经作家评审出的优秀作品收入“大国践绿生态文学优秀作品集”

 

三十载风雨同舟，我们并肩守护绿水青山；新征程步履不停，我们携手共赴生态家园。诚盼各位顾问、理事、合作伙伴、IFCE的朋友们，书写生态保护的动人篇章，为绿色发展注入新的力量！

Pushing aside the fog, the blue sky can be expected-IFCE promotes China’s smog mitigation efforts

by Ming Jing

Prologue

Grasping the nettle since the outbreak of the smog problem in 2013, all sectors of society in China have made concerted efforts to win the battle to keep the skies blue. In this long-lasting environmental mitigation war, the expert team led by Dr. Ping He, president of the International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE), has always been leading the charge. Now, as the smog causes increasingly clear, lights for more effective mitigation has emerged. In the “2024 Washington International Forum on Innovation and Cooperation” held in October , Dr Ping He reported on “IFCE’s efforts in promoting air pollution control in China ” and introduced IFCE’s extraordinary course in helping smog mitigation in China for last ten years (see Figure 1).

 

Figure 1 Dr. Ping He reporting at “2024 Washington International Forumon Innovation and Cooperation”

 

Section 1: The Dawn of Hope

On September 13,2024, an important document from the Ministry ofEcology and Environment (MEE) of China injected new vitality into the economic development of northern China. The document clearly standardized the fees and fines for enterprises, and strictly prohibited the “one-size-fits-all” business closure measures. The document stressed that restricting industrial production is not allowed to meet the annual environmental quality improvement target; and it is strictly prohibited totake simple and crude “cutting all” measure such as emergency shutdown and suspension to deal with environmental inspection, as well as “all shutdown” and “stopping first “. At the same time, the StateCouncil also issued a document abolishing the “Notice on the Issuance of the Three-year Action Plan for Winning the Battle for the Blue Sky” (No.22,2018) and other related documents.

The introduction of this policy is a positive response to Dr. Ping He’s previous smog control recommendation. In May 2024, Dr. Ping He sent a letter to President Xi Jinping, offering suggestions on more effective smog control. The first suggestion is to “Cancel the release of emergency management measures for heavy pollution condition” and “restrict local governments implementing large-scale shutdowns and production cuts under the guise of environmental protection”. Dr. Ping He believes that the current mitigation methods in the past few years did not address the real cause of the formation of heavy smog, the mitigation should be more scientific, reasonable and precise measures, rather than simply stopping and restricting industrial production and thus harming the economy.

 

Section 2: Control of the smog dilemma

In 2013, China was hit by a sudden and shocking smog disaster. In the face of the environmental crisis, the central and locals were taking rapid actions, investing huge resources, implementing a series of measures including reducing power plant and industrial flue gas emissions (ultra-low standards), using gas and electricity to replace coal uses , closing small and heavy polluted factories, control of volatile organic compounds (VOC), automobile exhaust, and construction site dust, etc. Although the main air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 emissions decreased obviously, but smog days often re-emerged.Since 2018, in the northern China, during autumn and winter seasons, the locals have to rely on “shutdown or restrict” industrial production to deal with heavy pollution. Although the measures to alleviate the degree of heavy smog, but brought the serious blow to the northern economy. Further more it was only a temporary solution, not fundamental changes. In the autumn and winter of 2020-2021, even during the epidemic, and with “shutdown or restricting production” measures, 13 large-scale smog occurred in North China / Fen and Wei river regions (see Figure 2). In January 2023, Jinan had 19 days of smog and 21 days of pollution in Xi’an.

 

Figure 2 Air quality index of North China on January 26 and 28, 2020

 

Section 3: Revealing the truth

As a non-profit international environmental organization that has long promoted environmental technology exchanges between the US andChina, IFCE has paid close attention to the outbreak of heavy smog. In 2013, IFCE organized experts in Washington to discuss the causes and countermeasures for the smog outbreak in China (see Figure 3). In May 2014, IFCE’s energy experts, Li Shusheng and Wang Jianxin, submitted a proposal report to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), entitled “New discoveries on the causes of severe smog and suggestions on the promotion of effective smog control technologies”, pointing out that the wet desulfurization process in industrial flue gas treatment may be the main cause of the outbreak of heavy smog. The report was forwarded to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), but received no attention.

 

Figure 3 In 2013, IFCE hosted a discussion on smog control in China in Washington,

attended by officials from the Chinese Embassy and the US EPA , as well as

well-known environmental experts.

 

In mid-December 2016, another severe smog swept through 11 provinces and cities, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan, with more than 100 cities severely polluted, seriously affecting the production, life and health of residents. In February 2017, Dr. Ping He published an article on the IFCE wechat account titled “No attention to the opinions of engineers, no results for China’s three years of smogcontrol “, pointing out that the white smoke （exhaust gases）discharged by “wet desulphurization” leads to heavy smog. This article and the subsequent debates with the power system experts on the causes of smog in China have attracted wide attention and discussion (see Figure 4).

 

Figure 4 Dr. Ping He’s article on the causes of smog was hotly discussed on the

Internet

 

In August 2017, in the first meeting of 2017 Shandong science and technology think-tank forum, with the theme of ” causes of smog and control of the scattered coal burning”, a senior researcher / independent investigator, then deputy director of Shandong Academy of Science and Technology/ Department of Development Strategy, Zhou Yong, released the report of his past three years research, answered about the “smog causes” which labeled as ” Question of Prime Minister “, because late Prime Minister Li Keqiang asked for the public. Zhou said: ” wet desulphurization is causing smog outbreak in 2013, also is the reason that smog rebounded in 2016 even under the most strict control in last three years” (see Figure 5). This result was supported by Professor Chen Jianmin, then executive vice president of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences at Fudan University, Professor Zhu Weiqun from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Shandong University, and some other experts who have worked on the front line on this issue for a long time. In December 2017, Dr. Ping He and Li Shusheng published anarticle on the internal magazine of the Advisors’ Office of the State Council titled as ” Is wet desulfurization the main cause of smog?” (see Figure 6). Under the promotion of IFCE and domestic experts, 11 provinces and cities including Tianjin city and Hebei province issued regulations requiring the treatment of “white flue gas” discharged from wet desulfurization during 2017 and 2018. The “dehumidification and de-whitening” projects were launched in various cities. This was the first time in the history of environmental governance that local governments have enacted to control pollution without the demand from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

 

Figure 5. White flue gas discharged after wet desulfurization in the power plant

Figure 6 Dr. Ping He and Li Shusheng published an article ” Is wet desulfurization the

main cause of smog?” in the internal journal “National Advising” of the Advisors’

Office of the State Council

 

Section 4: Insist to progress

In 2018, IFCE, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, assisted the Xuzhou city municipal government in controlling the “white flue gas” of 21 generating units of nine power plants (see Figure 7 and 8). Xuzhou’s PM2.5 in 2018 fell by 8% from 2017, much higher than the average 2% drop in Jiangsu province.

 

Figure 7 Dr. Ping He and the IFCE expert team discussed the “white flue

gas” mitigation project with the Xuzhou municipal government

Figure 8 Dr. Ping He (second from left) and expert Li Shusheng (second

from right) at the treatment site in Xuzhou

 

Due to the huge investments in the power plant groups in the early ultra-low discharge for pollutant emission required by the Ministry ofEcology and Environment (MEE), these groups were not willing to continue to invest in the “dehumidification and de-whitening” projects. In 2019, the MEE issued an order to stop the “dehumidification and de-whitening” projects launched in various cities, and asked enterprises to strictly stop or restrict production in heavy pollution condition (see Figure 9). Some places even asked farmers to put blankets on the ground during harvesting to reduce dust. However, the white flue gas discharged from wet desulfurization has not been treated, coupled with ultra-low standard denitrification (with nitrogen oxide removal), which leads to serious ammonia escape and further aggravating the generation of fine particulate matter. The two heavy regional smogs at the end of 2023 and early 2024 span more than 10 provinces and cities in central and eastern China, almost repeating the smog outbreak in early 2013.

 

Figure 9 Documents and related reports on the shutdown and production

restrictions in different regions and in recent years

In the face of smog rebounding, policy changes, resistance of influential enterprises and authoritative experts disregard, IFCE experts were not discouraged. With the support of the Air Pollution Control and Low Carbon Committee, a sub-group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, they continued to organize forums, in-depth discussion and technical investigation, discuss mitigation standards, recommend treatment technologies, and provide advising reports to the concerned government agencies (see Figure 10 and 11). Among them, Professor Song Guojun from the School of Environment of Renmin University of China concluded through big data analysis that the main reason for days PM2.5 exceeds the standard was aerosol dominant in “white flue gas” (accounting for more than 70%). In 2021 and 2022, through Sun Chengye and Zhen Zhen, members of the CPPCC National Committee, IFCE team submitted two formal recommendation proposals on in-depth smog mitigation to Chinese central governments.

 

Figure 10 Second symposium on Accurate Air Pollution Control was held in Beijing in

November 2020

Figure 11 In December 2021, the “PM2.5&C02 Forum” was held online

 

Section 5: Blue sky can be expected

In the letter to President Xi, Dr. Ping He also put forward two specific measures: one is to use “waste heat recovery” technique to control “white flue gas”, which can reduce the mitigation cost; the other is to promote ammonia-free denitrification technology to greatly reduce the ammonia content in the atmosphere. These are very targeted measures studied and researched by IFCE experts.

 

On the journey of smog mitigation, IFCE experts learnt from the successful international experience, analyzed the particularity of the causes of domestic smog, closely cooperated with international and domestic experts, and took multiple measures to promote the changes of smog mitigation policies and technology improvement. The governments and enterprises are now able to identify the right targets and make precise efforts to solve the severe smog problem that troubled northern China for last decade. Although in this autumn and winter, smog emerged as expected, but the fog has been cleared, the blue sky can be expected (see Figure 12)!

 

Figure 12 The blue sky and white clouds that people anticipate

For the First Time: How China’s Only Un–dammed Major River Was Successfully Protected

Dr. Shuai Shi

 

The most iconic landscape of the Nujiang River—First Bend of the Nujiang.

 

Steadfast in Our Original Aspiration, Pursuing Dreams on Fertile Land

The Nujiang River is one of the major rivers in Southwest China. It originates from the Tanggula Mountains in the Tibet Autonomous Region and flows southward through Yunnan Province. Upon entering Myanmar, it is known as the Salween River and eventually empties into the Indian Ocean. Spanning approximately 3,200 kilometers in total, the river covers 1,958 kilometers within China. With its deep gorges and rapid currents, the Nujiang River has a natural elevation drop of 4,840 meters, making it rich in hydropower resources. The Nujiang Grand Canyon is regarded as a “natural landmark.” In Yunnan, the Nujiang flows parallel to the Lancang River (Mekong) and the Jinsha River (upper Yangtze), yet each follows its own distinct course. This “Three Parallel Rivers” phenomenon is an exceptionally rare geographical spectacle worldwide and has been designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Standing atop a high vantage point, one cannot help but marvel at nature’s artistic mastery, where water flows like drifting clouds. Given its massive water flow and steep elevation drop, the Nujiang theoretically holds up to 50,000 megawatts of hydropower potential, nearly twice the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam. Many may wonder: Why hasn’t a hydropower dam been built to harness this immense energy? The answer is far from simple!

 

Location of the Three Parallel Rivers World Natural Heritage Site – Image sourced from the web

 

At the beginning of this century, as China accelerated its development, the hydropower sector began planning the exploitation of the Nujiang River’s hydropower potential. In 2003, Yunnan Province and national power authorities drafted the “Nujiang Middle and Lower Reaches Hydropower Planning Report,” which proposed a “two reservoirs and thirteen levels” development plan. The total estimated investment was 89.646 billion yuan, with a planned installed capacity of 21.32 million kilowatts and an expected annual electricity generation of 102.96 billion kilowatt-hours. In August 2003, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) held a review meeting in Beijing. Although the report was approved, the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) raised concerns about the Nujiang hydropower development plan.

At a subsequent expert forum, 27 experts, including five academicians, opposed the development of hydropower on the Nujiang River. They argued that such a project did not align with the principles of genuine sustainable development and advocated for preserving an ecologically intact river for future generations. This controversy quickly caught media attention and evolved into a nationwide debate. A diverse range of stakeholders joined the discussion, including local governments, environmental agencies, hydropower corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international institutions, experts, scholars, and the general public. By late October, opposition within China had intensified. At a meeting hosted by the China Environmental Culture Promotion Association, 62 individuals from the fields of science, culture, arts, journalism, and grassroots environmental advocacy jointly voiced their opposition to the construction of the Nujiang dams. Prominent environmental NGOs, including Beijing Green Earth Volunteers and the U.S.-based International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE), played an active role in this movement.

In 2004, Dr. He Ping, President of the International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE), sent a letter to President Hu Jintao through the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In the letter, he warned that dam construction on the Nujiang River would lead to the disappearance of endangered species, cause irreparable damage to cultural diversity, and significantly harm the unique natural landscapes of the region. He emphasized that hydropower development would severely degrade the river’s pristine environment. At the end of the letter, Dr. He cited a historical precedent from the United States:”When the U.S. debated whether to build a dam in the Grand Canyon, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ‘Such a magnificent landscape should be preserved for future generations forever.’ Today, the Grand Canyon remains one of the most cherished natural landmarks in the United States, and the tourism revenue it generates far exceeds what could have been earned from hydropower.” Dr. He concluded with a poignant question:”Can we preserve the Nujiang River in its entirety for future generations?” (“A Letter to President Hu Jintao on the Development of Nujiang,” IFCE Policy Recommendations Collection, p.2, 2015).

Facing the intense public debate, then Premier Wen Jiabao issued a directive stating that “large-scale hydropower projects that trigger significant public concern and environmental objections should be carefully studied and decided upon through scientific evaluation.” This marked a turning point in the Nujiang hydropower development debate. As a result, the development plan was put on hold, effectively bringing the project to a temporary halt.

In 2013, the Nujiang hydropower development plan was adjusted from the original “two reservoirs and thirteen levels” scheme to a scaled-down “one reservoir and four levels” approach. This revised plan was included in both the 12th Five-Year Plan for Hydropower Development and the 12th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy. During a meeting at the IFCE office in Washington, D.C.,  Ms. Wang Yongchen, the founder of Beijing Green Earth Volunteers, shared this update with Dr. He Ping. Expressing deep concern, she remarked, “This time, it may be difficult to stop the project, as the environmental authorities claim that the adjustments have already taken into account the concerns of ecological experts, the public, and civil society organizations.”

To gain a deeper understanding of the Nujiang River’s ecosystem and its overall development, Dr. He Ping decided to conduct an on-site investigation. In May 2013, accompanied by Lian, Fang, the founding president of the Yunnan Association for the Promotion of Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation and then IFCE Yunnan Representative, along with other experts, Dr. He embarked on his Nujiang expedition. “Not fearing floating clouds that obscure the view,  wish to be the starlight that guards these mountains and rivers.”  Starting from Liuku town, the team traveled upstream along the river. Immersed in the breathtaking Nujiang River Basin, Dr. He deeply felt the unique artistic conception and charm of the connection between human beings and all things. The original ecological species in Nujiang River allow people to immerse themselves in and feel the charm of the nature. The Nujiang Grand Canyon, where the river flows, features towering mountains, rushing waters, and a highly diverse climate. Within a stretch of less than 300 kilometers from Liuku to Bingzhongluo, the landscape transitions through five distinct ecosystems: Tropical rainforest ecosystem, Forest ecosystem, Wetland ecosystem, Alpine grassland ecosystem, and River ecosystem. This region serves as a home for numerous rare and endangered species, making it one of the world’s most critical biodiversity conservation areas. For example, there is a “handsome monkey” called the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, which lives here. Additionally, the Nujiang River Basin is home to over twenty ethnic minority groups, including the Lisu, Nu, Dulong, Bai, and Pumi peoples, each contributing to the area’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

 

Dr. He Ping and the research team conducting a field investigation on the Nujiang River

Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey – Image sourced from the web

 

After an arduous field investigation, Dr. He Ping and the accompanying experts concluded that hydropower development on the Nujiang River would have severe impacts on the region’s plants, animals, and ecosystems. The team also observed that preliminary work on the project had already begun, and construction was imminent. This realization underscored the urgent need for immediate conservation efforts—there was no time to waste!

After completing the investigation and engaging in thorough discussions with other IFCE experts, Dr. He Ping submitted a report to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) titled “Recommendation to Halt Hydropower Development on the Nujiang River.” In this report, he identified five major flaws in the project and urged that it should be “immediately stopped.” The five critical issues outlined in the report were as follows:

First, it will increase the risk of earthquakes and geological disasters. The Nujiang Grand Canyon is located along the major Nujiang Fault Zone, a region with complex geological conditions. The presence of underground karst caves, fault lines, and unstable rock formations poses significant risks. These geological factors could directly impact the safety and stability of dams.

Second, it will cause serious harm to biological diversity. The Nujiang is a pristine river, and hydropower development will prevent it from being protected as a natural heritage. Hydropower development can easily cause ecosystem damage.

 

The lush forest vegetation of the Nujiang Grand Canyon

 

Third, it will have a major impact on the ethnic diversity of the canyon. Hydropower cannot solve the poverty problem of the people, and it will also affect the way of living of the people along Nujiang.

 

A glimpse of the festive celebrations of Nujiang Prefecture residents

 

Fourth, it will seriously damage tourism development.

Fifth, it will have a serious negative impact on China’s international image.

The CPPCC highly valued Dr. He Ping’s report, which was submitted as a special briefing (“政协信息专报”) directly to then-Vice Premiers Zhang Gaoli and Wang Yang (see image below). The State Council adopted the recommendations, leading to the halt of the Nujiang hydropower development project.

 

The special report submitted by the CPPCC to the State Council, featuring Dr. He Ping’s recommendations.

 

Xu, Guanghua, a former senior official in the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the CPPCC , reflected on Dr. He Ping’s efforts in policy advocacy. He remarked: “In fact, China’s planning for hydropower development on the Nujiang River began as early as the 1950s. From 1958 to 1959, the Kunming Survey and Design Institute (Kunming Institute) conducted a comprehensive survey of the Nujiang mainstream within Yunnan Province and produced the ‘Nujiang Mainstream Hydropower Resource Survey Report’. In August 2003, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) approved the ‘Two Reservoirs and Thirteen Levels’ hydropower development plan for the middle and lower reaches of the Nujiang (from Songta to the China-Myanmar border). The Nujiang, Lancang (Mekong), and Jinsha (Upper Yangtze) Rivers are collectively known as the Three Parallel Rivers and are among the major waterways in Southwest China. While the Jinsha River has seen the construction of the Baihetan Hydropower Station and the Lancang River has the Nuozhadu Hydropower Station, the Nujiang remains the only major river in China without a large-scale hydropower project. Why did the Nujiang River become the only major river in China without a large hydropower station? This would not have been possible without Dr. He Ping’s relentless advocacy and perseverance!”

In February 2004, Premier Wen put the Nujiang hydropower project on hold. However, the situation changed in 2013 when the State Council issued the “12th Five-Year Plan for Energy Development,” which was formally released on January 23. The plan outlined over 50 key hydropower projects scheduled to begin construction before 2015. Among them, the Songta Hydropower Base on the Nujiang River was listed as a priority construction project. As a result, Nujiang hydropower development once again became a heated national controversy.

Because of Dr. He Ping’s relentless efforts and his visionary insights, the State Council intervened, leading to a decisive outcome. The Yunnan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment and the Yunnan Provincial Department of Water Resources jointly announced the stop of hydropower development on the Nujiang River. From that moment, Nujiang hydropower development was completely stopped. In 2016, Yunnan Province officially launched the Nujiang Highway Tourism Development Project, shifting the region’s focus from hydropower to eco-friendly tourism. With far-sighted environmental policies, the Nujiang River was finally preserved—a landmark victory for conservation.

 

Daring to Lead, Protecting Mountains and Rivers.

Karl Marx once said: “Man should not be overly intoxicated by the joy of conquering nature. Every time humanity conquers nature, nature will retaliate against humanity.” Dr. He Ping echoed this sentiment by quoting Su Dongpo’s verse: “Life is like the fleeting traces of a wild goose on snow-covered mud. The imprints may remain for a moment, but the bird flies on, indifferent to direction.” Through these words, he expressed his lifelong mission. Departing from his usual demeanor as a humble scholar, Dr. He took a firm stance in his report to the State Council, writing with conviction and urgency: “Immediate halt!” His investigation report reflected the deep influence of his Hunan cultural upbringing—a philosophy rooted in coexistence with nature, a strong sense of crisis, compassion, critical thinking, and responsibility. He used persuasive information and data to express his love for natural life and the voice of a scholar with a great soul.

The International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE) was founded in 1996 in Washington, D.C. by a group of Chinese scholars and experts who had studied in the United States in the 1980s. Its primary mission is to support environmental improvement in China as a means to contribute to global sustainable development.

As the co-founder and president of IFCE, Dr. He Ping has played a pivotal role in advancing environmental cooperation between China and the international community. Dr. He graduated from Wuhan College of Surveying and Mapping (now Wuhan University) and pursued further studies in the United States in the mid-1980s. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and has since dedicated his career to environmental technology exchange, policy advocacy, and public capacity building between China and the world.

In 1999, the First U.S.-China Environmental NGO Cooperation Forum was held in Washington, D.C., with 99 representatives in attendance. Prominent international environmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), sent delegates to participate. This forum was later documented in the U.S. State Department’s Annual Report on U.S.-China Exchanges. For the first time, over a dozen of  Chinese grassroots environmental NGOs, including Friends of Nature and Beijing Green Earth, made their debut on the international stage. Following this, IFCE began hosting the forum every two years, which also provided training and collaboration opportunities. By 2003, the third forum held in Beijing evolved into the International Environmental NGO Forum, expanding beyond the U.S. and Europe to include organizations from Australia, Japan, and other countries. With 450 participants, it became the largest of its kind. The People’s Daily hailed it as a “historic breakthrough for China’s environmental NGOs.” In 2002, the United Nations officially recognized IFCE as a major international environmental organization, further solidifying its role in China’s environmental protection efforts. Starting in 2004, IFCE began submitting policy recommendations to China’s government via the CPPCC. Over the years, it has presented more than 30 reports on topics including: Land system reform, Watershed management, Energy efficiency and technology, Causes of air pollution and smog, Low-carbon development and Regulation of endangered species trade. These reports have had a positive impact on policy-making, and the CPPCC acknowledged IFCE as the overseas organization that has provided the most and highest-quality recommendations to the Chinese government.

Ms. Lian Fang, who accompanied Dr. He Ping during the Nujiang investigation in 2013, was deeply moved. She reflected: “The successful protection of the Nujiang River is the result of joint efforts by experts, society, and all levels of government—from the national to the local level—as well as the local people. It represents a shift from a development-focused approach to a balance between development and conservation. It is a concrete example of the principle that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.’”Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” the Nujiang Grand Canyon is globally recognized alongside the Grand Canyon in the U.S. and the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Tibet. However, Nujiang’s canyon is even longer than the Grand Canyon, stretching more than twice its length—while the Grand Canyon in the U.S. is only 440 kilometers long, the Nujiang Grand Canyon extends much farther from north to south. Additionally, Nujiang’s depths surpass those of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon’s deepest point reaches 1,830 meters, whereas the Nujiang Grand Canyon’s depths exceed 2,000 meters, with most sections surpassing 3,000 meters. Unlike the Grand Canyon, which was once home to Indigenous Native American tribes but is now sparsely inhabited, the Nujiang Grand Canyon remains a “living canyon.” Multiple ethnic minorities have lived here for generations, coexisting peacefully with nature, and embracing a life of tranquility and harmony.

 

Peacock Mountain, the main peak of the Biluo Snow Mountains on the east bank of the Nujiang River

 

Nujiang Today, A Pride of China.

Today, Nujiang Prefecture has transformed from a symbol of extreme poverty into a model for rural revitalization and ecological civilization. By promoting eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture, the region has provided new income opportunities for local residents. Products such as high-mountain tea and eco-friendly honey from the Nujiang River Basin have gained popularity due to their pristine environment and unique climate conditions. In recent years, Nujiang has actively embraced the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, deepening the ecological civilization mindset and strengthening its commitment to green development. Nujiang Prefecture has been designated as part of the fourth batch of National Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zones. Gongshan County was named a National “Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains” Innovation Base and awarded the title of “China’s Natural Oxygen Bar.”  Nujiang has truly embraced ecological prosperity—residents now benefit from the “golden food bowl” of environmental conservation, the happiness of tourism-driven growth, and the path to wealth through sustainable industries.

The 70th anniversary conference of the establishment of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture was grandly held in December 2024. Nujiang successfully held two international forums on poverty reduction governance and global development (Nujiang), providing a Chinese example for global poverty reduction and modern development. In February 2021, the Nujiang Prefecture Committee won the title of “National Advanced Group in Poverty Alleviation”. The global brand influence of “Secret Valley” Nujiang Coffee continues to increase. 65,000 acres of ecological tea are planted, with a comprehensive output value of 170 million yuan. “Tea from Atour Village” is customized and underwritten by Atour Group and supplied to more than 1,300 chain hotels across the country, driving an average income increase of more than 20,000 yuan for each farmer. 9,500 acres of small berries were planted, leading to a steady increase in income for 92,800 people in 28,500 households. Characteristic livestock and poultry such as Dulong cattle, Gaoligong mountain pigs, black-bone sheep, and Ake chickens have developed steadily.

 

The people of Nujiang singing and dancing in celebration of a festive occasion

 

The Qilian Lake Scenic Area of Nujiang Prefecture was awarded the “Top Ten National Adventure Tourism Boutique Scenic Area”. A number of integrated development complexes such as Nujiang Green Spice Industrial Park, Bainiao Valley Scenic Area, Xiaoshaba Scenic Area, and Baihualing Scenic Area have been built, further enhancing the core attractiveness of Nujiang travel and residence products.

 

A grand cultural performance in Nujiang Dulong Autonomous County

Since 2017, Nujiang has held international and domestic kayaking events such as the International Open, World Cup, and Tokyo Olympic Trials for 8 consecutive years. Nujiang kayaking events have become one of the influential sports tourism competitions in Yunnan Province and have been listed. For the “Belt and Road, Colorful Yunnan” series of brand events, it was named the top ten fine sports tourism events in China in 2022 and has become an importantmap for Yunnan Province to build a strong sports province with a plateau.

 

The 2024 China Nujiang Wildwater Canoeing International Open

 

Dr. He Ping said that the Nujiang model is a demonstration sample of “green development and ecological civilization”. He believes that Nujiang’s model from giving up hydropower to developing an ecological economy is a model of global “sustainable development” and should allow more people to understand and learn. (Written by Dr. Shi Shuai, Secretary-General of the Chinese Writers Association of North America.)

 

Dr. Shuai Shi (the author) and Dr. He Ping at the Li Zijian Art Museum, Changsha, China

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