He Risks His Life to Save Rare Alpine Plants

Wading rivers, braving snowstorms, and driving on cliffside roads, conservationist Wei Xingzhi has spent over a decade documenting and protecting endangered alpine species in Yunnan’s Hengduan Mountains. His team has cultivated over 35,000 rare plants from 200+ species. Even with limited funding, they built a makeshift lab and continue seed-saving work in harsh terrain. “Every bump on the road may risk a species’ last chance,” he says.

By Fu Rui, Zhang Danni and Zhang Wenling/ China Youth Daily

（Photo/China Youth Daily）