A thematic expedition on the “Yangtze River Economic Belt" was launched in Shigu Town, Lijiang city of SW China’s Yunnan Province on July 20, aiming to explore, present and protect the region’s economic, ecological and cultural development.

Organized by the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC), the activity aims to explore the important connotations of culture, folklore, historical inheritance and ecological civilization of the Yangtze River and showcase the all-round development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Over 100 reporters from People’s Daily, China Media Group, Xinhua News Agency and other central and local media will conduct in-depth interviews and investigation along the Yangtze River, which flows 11 provincial regions in China.

With a total length of 6397 kilometers, the Yangtze River is China’s longest river and the world’s third longest, after the Nile River in Africa and the Amazon River in South America.

After the launching ceremony, the group planted 100 trees near the riverbank of the Yangtze, calling more people to participate in the protection of the Yangtze River.（By Yang Yang）