The China Project Photo Contest: Running Boy, by Hannah Wilson
Editor’s note: Hannah Wilson’s photo (click to enlarge) is a 2nd Prize winner in the The China Project Photo Contest. All 10 winning photos will be posted one per day, with the Grand Prize winner unveiled on Friday, September 21. Keep an eye on this space for all the winners, and check out yesterday’s photo, Patrick Firmansyah’s “Water Calligraphy.” This is the second photo of Hannah Wilson’s to appear in the Top 10 of our contest; also check out her other entry, Tianmen Mountain.
This photograph was taken in April 2018 and shows the son of a member of an all-women’s handicraft cooperative in the Sanjiangyuan region. He sprints ahead of the group toward a temple on the hill.
Translating to “Three Rivers Source,” Sanjiangyuan in western Qinghai is the watershed of China’s three greatest rivers: the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong Rivers. The area has become increasingly threatened by climate change and tourism, leading to desertification and large amounts of garbage entering the ecosystem. As many communities in the region rely on the environment and yak herding, their livelihood and traditional Tibetan culture are increasingly threatened. Local conservationists are leading environmental protection work in the area, including trash collection, wildlife patrolling, and water quality testing. This work will help protect Sanjiangyuan for the next generation — people like this boy.
