Utah teenagers visit the Deji Village History Museum in Jianzha County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. [Photo by Yang Xiaodong]

Along the shores of the Qinghai Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, snow-capped mountains stand against the azure sky, and grasslands are dotted with a sea of colorful flowers in early summer. From June 10 to 14, 2025, a delegation of 23 members from the U.S. state of Utah embarked on a five-day journey of ecological discovery, cultural immersion and friendship on this plateau known as "China's Water Tower," as it boasts the sources of Asia's three longest rivers — the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River.

The event was hosted by the Qinghai Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and co-organized by the Utah Qinghai Technology Innovation Alliance and the International Leadership Academy of Utah. Participants included teachers and students from eight institutions such as Brigham Young University (Utah campus), Brigham Young University–Hawaii, and North Ogden Elementary and Junior High Schools.

During their stay in Qinghai, they visited the provincial capital Xining, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Throughout these visits, they observed Qinghai's unique contributions to Chinese modernization, witnessed firsthand the remarkable achievements of China's ecological conservation, and experienced the charming diversity of ethnic cultures in the region. Centered around the themes of "family culture" and ecological awareness, the exchange painted a vivid picture of people-to-people bonds between China and the United States, amid the embrace of Qinghai's stunning landscapes.

Exploring rare highland wildlife

Upon entering the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Wildlife Park located in Xining, the teenagers from Utah were instantly captivated by the sight of snow leopards, known as the "king of the snowy mountains." They not only witnessed the vibrant vitality of the plateau up close but also learned deeply about the life stories of these iconic big cats, one of today's most beloved "internet celebrities." Particularly moving was the story of Lingxia, a snow leopard successfully rescued in 2021. Timothy, an American teenager, exclaimed: "I love the fluffy paws and tails of snow leopards. It's amazing that you saved them!"

Next, the delegation visited the Qinghai Lake Biodiversity Conservation Research Center, also known as Przewalski's Gazelle Conservation Research Center. This was the first U.S. delegation from Utah to visit since the center was designated as a "Qinghai-Utah youth international exchange demonstration base for nature education in Chinese and American national parks" in 2023. Here, these American teenagers had their "first lesson" in ecological exploration in China and left deeply inspired.

Through engaging visuals, detailed illustrations and informative videos, they gained not only a profound appreciation of the Chinese government's environmental philosophy of respecting and conforming to nature, but also admiration for China's integration of academic research with public participation. This distinctive "Chinese solution" has made unique contribution to global biodiversity conservation.

During the interactive session, the Utah students sketched the agile postures of Przewalski's gazelles. A student from North Ogden Junior High School said, "I shall bring this moving experience back to the U.S., so more people can learn about and protect these beautiful creatures on the plateau."