China boasts rich wildlife, from Tibetan wild donkeys racing across snowy plateaus to giant pandas frolicking in bamboo forests. Siberian tigers and Amur leopards roam through vast forests with awe, while Hainan gibbons gracefully navigate tropical rainforests.

A scenery of Nyenpo Yutse (Nyainbo Yuze) Holy Mountain in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China's Qinghai Province.

To better protect the precious wildlife, China introduced the concept of a national park system in 2013. The first group of China's national parks, including the Sanjiangyuan National Park, Giant Panda National Park, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and Wuyi Mountain National Park, were officially established in 2021.

In August 2019, China hosted the first National Park Forum in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province. In a congratulatory letter, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, "By implementing the system, China aims to maintain the primitiveness and integrity of natural ecology, protect biodiversity and ecological security, and preserve precious natural assets for future generations."

The second National Park Forum took place also in Xining in August 2023. China News Release reporters recently interviewed Tang Xiaoping, president of the Institute of National Parks, on the future trajectory of national parks.

CHINA NEWS RELEASE: What defines each of the first batch of national parks?

TANG XIAOPING: These five national parks represent vital components of the natural ecosystems in their respective regions. They showcase unique natural landscapes, preserve essential natural heritage and foster abundant biodiversity.

Covering less than 2.5% of China's land area, these parks safeguard 30% of the nation's key protected terrestrial wildlife. This underscores their unparalleled core protection value, playing a crucial role in establishing a national ecological security barrier.