SW China’s Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Polygonum viviparum L. on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Draba yunnanensis Franch. on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 22, 2025 shows a Notholirion bulbuliferum (Lingelsh.) Stearn in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a patch of Primula sikkimensis Hook. on Shika Snow Mountain scenic area in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Saxifraga melanocentra Franch. on Shika Snow Mountain scenic area in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a Cremanthodium rhodocephalum Diels in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a patch of Polygonum macrophyllum D. Don in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Pedicularis likiangensis Franch. ex Maxim. on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Potentilla articulata Franch. on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Codonopsis bulleyana Forrest ex Diels on Shika Snow Mountain scenic area in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 25, 2025 shows a Saussurea medusa Maxim. in Deqin County, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Meconopsis rudis on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Pedicularis likiangensis Franch. ex Maxim. on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Meconopsis rudis on Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Photo by Zhao Qingzu/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 23, 2025 shows a Meconopsis pseudovenusta G. Taylor on Shika Snow Mountain scenic area in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 25, 2025 shows a Meconopsis lancifolia (Franch.) Franch. ex Prain in Deqin County, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 25, 2025 shows a Corydalis hemidicentra Hand.-Mazz. in Deqin County, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 22, 2025 shows a Rheum nobile Hook.f.et Thomson in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

A photographer takes photos of a Saussurea medusa Maxim. in Deqin County, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, July 25, 2025. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

This photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a Saxifraga pallida Wall. ex Ser. in Shangri-la, the Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Known as “Plant Kingdom” in China, Yunnan nurtures a wealth of rare alpine plants thanks to its unique geographical position, diverse landforms and complex climatic conditions. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20250729/21734906014943489714d55cb1634907/c.html

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…