1/10

On August 22, an aerial photo captures Chadan Wetland, the largest peat wetland in the Yangtze River Source Area of Sanjiangyuan National Park, China. Media representatives and cultural tourism influencers participating in the 2025 Lancang-Mekong International Image Week visited Zaduo County in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, the source of the Lancang River, for a field visit. Chadan Wetland is one of the highest altitude and largest plateau wetlands in the world. The Dangqu River, the southern source of the Yangtze, originates here, playing vital roles in ecological water storage, water replenishment, climate regulation, and carbon sequestration. (Drone photo)

Chadan Wetland

The Chadan Wetland is a significant ecological and cultural site located in Tibet, historically revered by local nomadic communities. It serves as a crucial high-altitude marsh ecosystem and is a vital habitat for numerous migratory bird species. Its history is intertwined with regional traditions of environmental conservation and sustainable coexistence.

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and a cradle of Chinese civilization, with a history of human habitation and irrigation dating back millennia. It has been a vital transportation route and economic artery throughout China’s history, playing a central role in the country’s cultural and agricultural development.

Sanjiangyuan National Park

Sanjiangyuan National Park is a vast protected area on the Tibetan Plateau in China, established to safeguard the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong rivers. Historically a region of nomadic pastoralism, it was officially designated as a national park in 2016 to combat ecological degradation and protect its unique high-altitude ecosystems.

Lancang-Mekong International Image Week

The Lancang-Mekong International Image Week is a cultural exchange event and photography festival established to foster cooperation and understanding among the six countries sharing the Lancang-Mekong River. It was initiated to celebrate the shared natural and cultural heritage of the region through the visual arts. The event typically features exhibitions, forums, and awards that highlight the work of photographers from China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Zaduo County

Zaduo County is a remote and sparsely populated region located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture within China’s Qinghai Province. Historically, it has been a traditional area for Tibetan nomadic herding communities. The county is part of the Sanjiangyuan (Three Rivers Headwaters) region, which contains the sources of the Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong Rivers.

Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is a culturally significant region located in southern Qinghai Province, China, on the Tibetan Plateau. Historically, it was a center of the ancient Kham Tibetan culture and a vital hub on the southern route of the Silk Road. It is renowned for its Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and as the source of three major Asian rivers.

Lancang River

The Lancang River is a major transboundary river in Asia, known as the Mekong River once it flows through Southeast Asia. Historically, it has been a vital trade and transportation route for centuries, particularly for the communities in China’s Yunnan Province. Its basin is also recognized for its rich cultural and ecological significance.

Dangqu River

The Dangqu River, also known as the Dam Chu, is a significant river on the Tibetan Plateau and serves as the geographic headwater of the Mekong River. It originates from the glaciers of the Tanggula Mountains and has historically been a vital water source for the region’s nomadic communities. Its pristine alpine environment remains an iconic part of the landscape in the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve.