Running Boy

Part of the 2018 The China Project photo contest.

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.