In the Yangtze River source region in Kekexili, or Hoh Xil,
there is a natural conservation station, the first one in this
area.
Hoh Xil is located in the northwest of the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau, covering 830,000 square kilometers. It is the world’s
third largest and China’s largest non-populated zone. Remaining in
a natural state, Hoh Xil is home to a variety of wild animals such
as Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks and Tibetan kiangs, which are
indigenous to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, driven by huge
economic benefits, poaching has become increasingly rampant.
Serving as a frontline base for anti-poaching activities, the
station was named Sounan Dajie Nature Conservation Station in
commemoration of the leader of a team to crack down on poaching
activities who was shot dead by poachers in a fight on January 18,
1994.
Yang Xin, a river explorer, sponsored the establishment of this
station. He raised a sum of money from the sales of his book,
Soul of the Yangtze River, and with these funds the station
was set up at the foot of the Kunlun Mountain in September
1997.
In August 1998, funded by the Shenzhen Yingtetai Investment Co.,
Ltd. and environmentalists, some necessary facilities such as solar
heating equipment, a lookout tower, kitchen and lavatories were
installed.
In 2000, 1,400-watt solar and wind generators were installed in
the station with funds raised from the sale of the picture album,
Source of the Yangtze River. Using these funds, the station
also bought computers, satellite phones and a jeep in that
year.
On January 1, 2001, the station began accepting volunteers.
By the end of 2002, over 200 volunteers had worked in the
station.
(China.org.cn, November 17, 2005)