Youth-Led Green Long March Inspires Environmental Action Across China
At the break of dawn on April 20, Beijing’s Wenyu River Park transformed into a vibrant “green bazaar.” More than 30 eco-themed tents, set up by student associations and environmental groups, lined the riverbanks. The event marked the launch of the “Beautiful China – Youth Action” Green Bridge and Green Long March activities, engaging over 5,000 local residents and visitors in hands-on environmental practices.
A 40-Year Legacy of Green Action
The scene harks back to 1984 when students from Beijing Forestry University (BFU) pioneered China’s first campus-led “Green Consultation.” Their grassroots efforts planted the seeds of youth environmental engagement, evolving over decades into the influential Green Bridge and Green Long March programs.
This year, BFU launched the 2025 Green Bridge and Green Long March initiative. The Green Long March, a nationwide ecological research campaign led by university students, aims to mobilize nearly 10,000 participants from over 1,000 groups. These young environmentalists will conduct field studies across seven core ecosystems: mountains, waters, forests, farmlands, grasslands, lakes, and deserts.
Empowering Youth through Innovation and Education
Beyond ecological research, the initiative fosters technological innovation, environmental education, cultural promotion, and rural revitalization. The program includes the second National Youth Green Innovation Competition, encouraging sustainable thinking among young people. Interactive eco-courses and practical projects are designed to instill lasting environmental awareness.
Creative expressions also take center stage—from poetic dance performances to youth-led lectures. Practical “Green Consultation” initiatives channel expertise into rural development projects. “Through grassroots research, we not only support local conservation but also improve our expertise,” said Wang Yan, a junior from the School of Landscape Architecture at BFU. “These initiatives channel youth passion into collective action, inspiring broader public engagement in sustainability.”
Rediscovering Nature’s Hidden Treasures
As part of BFU’s “A4210 Green Long March” program, Wang and his teammates traveled to Laojun Mountain in southwest China’s Sichuan Province in 2024. Over two weeks, they conducted bamboo pest control research, biodiversity surveys, and conservation outreach in the 1,600-meter-high nature reserve.
Despite challenges like unstable power supplies and treacherous mountain trails, the team persevered. Their dedication paid off when they discovered the iridescent Cheirotonus jansoni, a beetle species under China’s second-class state protection. Experts confirmed it was the first recorded sighting in the area in over 40 years.
This remarkable find underscores the rich biodiversity of the reserve and highlights how Chinese youth are becoming key drivers of sustainable development.
Tech-Powered Farming Solutions
In the summer of 2024, members of the “Youth Empowerment for Rural Revitalization” research group from BFU returned to their hometown in Huize County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, to help local farmers tackle widespread pepper crop failures. Nearly 60 percent of the crops had been hit by pest infestations, causing a significant drop in yields.
Braving the scorching sun, the students analyzed chili varieties, documented diseased leaves, collected soil samples, and explored agricultural solutions like artificial pollination and drone irrigation. “Initially, we just wanted to contribute to our hometown’s development—the goal was simple. But when our findings resonated with the local government, we realized our work could have a real impact,” said Pang Xin, the group leader and a junior from the College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology at BFU.
Protecting Watersheds for Future Generations
In Tiansi Village, located in western Beijing, BFU’s “Jingxi Yongding” Green Long March group conducted research on flood-damaged areas, assessing tree distribution and the risk of tree falls to guide post-flood ecological recovery.
This region is a testament to decades of BFU’s expertise in watershed management. Since the 1950s, faculty and students have implemented solutions like check dams, drainage channels, and reforestation efforts, transforming former floodplains into thriving ecosystems.
A Movement for Ecological Stewardship
In 2024 alone, 344 universities and 68 institutions mobilized over 10,000 students to carry out sustainability projects, generating widespread public engagement. Over the past 40 years, the Green Bridge and Green Long March activities have become a youth-driven movement for ecological civilization and rural revitalization in China. Looking ahead, these initiatives will continue to play a key role in building a Beautiful China through hands-on stewardship and innovation.
