Stubborn guardians of the Yangtze: ordinary citizens
2026-06-05 20:06:16
By Zhou Chunyi.
On May 23, Ms. Wang waded into the Yangtze River in Yichang to rescue a stranded finless porpoise. She guided it back into deeper water and stayed with it until it swam to safety. Her simple act of compassion resonated widely, with one social media user commenting: "The people of Yichang share a special bond with finless porpoises, a love that comes straight from the heart."
This devotion was also evident in 2022 when photographer Yang He spotted a porpoise tangled in rope near Gezhouba Dam. Fishery officer Mo Hongyuan rushed to cut it free, injuring his hand in the process. To give the animal space, all waiting ships stopped their engines, bringing the Golden Waterway to a silent standstill for 12 minutes.
These are not isolated incidents. In Yichang, grassroots conservation is woven into the city's fabric. Barber Li Nianbang began picking up trash along the riverbank alone in 2015. Today, his "Three Gorges Ant Workers" volunteer group has grown to more than 10,000 members and removed over 1,200 tons of garbage. Former fishermen such as Zhang Fuxin and Song Junfeng have traded their nets for patrol boats, while 78-year-old Xue Chuangen retired to plant 180,000 trees to help protect the rare Myricaria laxiflora. Grassroots organizations like "Straw Circle" and "Yangtze Sentinels" have built a conservation network that spans the entire city.
The results speak for themselves. Trash is now rarely seen along the river, barren banks have been transformed into green parks, and finless porpoises frequently return to play near the shore.Honoring these guardians can be as simple as picking up a piece of litter, appreciating the wildlife, and helping protect the river. Together, we can keep these emerald waters flowing for generations to come.
On May 23, Ms. Wang waded into the Yangtze River in Yichang to rescue a stranded finless porpoise. She guided it back into deeper water and stayed with it until it swam to safety. Her simple act of compassion resonated widely, with one social media user commenting: "The people of Yichang share a special bond with finless porpoises, a love that comes straight from the heart."
This devotion was also evident in 2022 when photographer Yang He spotted a porpoise tangled in rope near Gezhouba Dam. Fishery officer Mo Hongyuan rushed to cut it free, injuring his hand in the process. To give the animal space, all waiting ships stopped their engines, bringing the Golden Waterway to a silent standstill for 12 minutes.
These are not isolated incidents. In Yichang, grassroots conservation is woven into the city's fabric. Barber Li Nianbang began picking up trash along the riverbank alone in 2015. Today, his "Three Gorges Ant Workers" volunteer group has grown to more than 10,000 members and removed over 1,200 tons of garbage. Former fishermen such as Zhang Fuxin and Song Junfeng have traded their nets for patrol boats, while 78-year-old Xue Chuangen retired to plant 180,000 trees to help protect the rare Myricaria laxiflora. Grassroots organizations like "Straw Circle" and "Yangtze Sentinels" have built a conservation network that spans the entire city.
A mother finless porpoise and her calf swim together
in the Yangtze River at Yichang.
in the Yangtze River at Yichang.
The results speak for themselves. Trash is now rarely seen along the river, barren banks have been transformed into green parks, and finless porpoises frequently return to play near the shore.Honoring these guardians can be as simple as picking up a piece of litter, appreciating the wildlife, and helping protect the river. Together, we can keep these emerald waters flowing for generations to come.
