June 14, 2025，DIQING, YUNNAN — A delegation of overseas Chinese media professionals recently wrapped up a six-day visit to Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest Yunnan Province, as part of the “Plateau Expedition” program organized by the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification. Journalists and editors from countries including the U.S., New Zealand, Germany, and Kenya visited Shangri-La City, Deqin County, and Weixi Lisu Autonomous County, documenting stories of community vitality, environmental protection, and cultural coexistence.
“I was struck by how many young people are working in grassroots roles,” said Kenneth Huang, a media representative from San Francisco. “There’s a strong upward energy among the youth in China’s ethnic minority regions.”
At Yujie Village in Deqin, local Party Secretary Lu Rongqupin explained how the community is leveraging natural and cultural assets to develop tourism. Li Yihong, Vice President of New Zealand’s Prime Media Corporation, was impressed by the young university-educated village leaders. “They return home not only with knowledge but with a sense of mission,” she noted. “They’re shaping the countryside and implementing national policies effectively. These young leaders are not just managers—they’re the future.”
The tour also offered a close look at Diqing’s multiethnic harmony and religious tolerance. “Whether at the iconic Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, the remote Taba Lin Temple, or the Catholic church in Cizhong along the Lancang River canyon, you can sense the peaceful coexistence of religions,” said Jin Xiaodong, President of the Nepal Chinese Association. “Freedom of belief is protected. People of different faiths live side by side like family.”
Rich biodiversity and protected natural landscapes were another highlight. Wang Xiao, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Headlines Kenya, described her encounters in Pudacuo National Park, where she saw wooden shelters built for squirrels and observed endangered Yunnan golden monkeys up close. “Coming from Kenya, ecological health is always a focus for me,” she said. “I’m truly impressed by the structured and effective conservation work being done in Diqing.”
“Diqing is essential to understanding the broader story of Yunnan,” said Fan Xuan, Editor-in-Chief of European Chinese Times in Germany. “This region showcases both environmental responsibility and deep cultural roots. What we saw reassured us: the reality on the ground is far better than how it’s often portrayed overseas.”
Fan also addressed the challenge of telling China’s ethnic stories to the world. “Western narratives often distort China’s ethnic policies,” he said. “As Chinese media professionals abroad, we have a responsibility to present facts and context—to show that Tibetan, Miao, Naxi, Lisu, Han, and other ethnic communities live in true interdependence here in western Yunnan.”
“That’s why I keep coming back,” he added.
