Conservation takes root among students

Journey to the sea

The project culminated with the arrival of another group of 40 Kashgar students at the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park in Shenzhen on Sept 28. For the first time, they saw the ocean, walked among the mangroves, meaning "red trees" in Chinese, learned that the "red trees" weren't actually red, and understood the vibrant coastal ecosystem that is one of Shenzhen's ecological gems.

The park offered a multi-faceted experience: an exhibition, an "Otter and Friends" board game, and outdoor exploration.

Students discovered the mangroves' unique ways of reproduction, traced migratory bird routes, and learned about wetland food chains. On the mudflats, they observed the Shenzhen River and searched for hidden gems of nature, unlocking multiple "firsts" in their lives.

Liu Wangwang, a teacher accompanying the students, told the Shenzhen Evening News: "This mangrove study tour is not just a nature class; it's a vivid practice of interaction, exchange, and integration for the youth of Shenzhen and Kashgar. It's a cross-mountain and sea exchange ... and a lively extracurricular lesson for the children."

Akedan Kareman, a student from Kashgar, felt a sense of wonder standing by the Shenzhen sea. "Kashgar has desert poplars guarding the Gobi desert, and Shenzhen has mangroves guarding its coast," she said. "This trip opened my eyes, and I learned so much beyond textbooks, realizing how important it is to protect nature."

Another student, Abdullah Maimaiti, looking at the lush vegetation, thought of his homeland. "Shenzhen's abundant greenery reminds me of the Gobi in Kashgar; I hope my hometown will also be lush and green in the future."