

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern China. It was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty. Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, which allowed links between China and the West to flourish.

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Arriving by minibus along the Silk road to Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall of China. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Smokestacks are visible close to the Great Wall of China near Jiuquan. Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Smokestacks are visible close to the Great Wall of China near Jiuquan. Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall of China. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Smokestacks are visible behind the Great Wall of China near Jiuquan. Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall of China. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall of China. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Smokestacks are visible behind the Great Wall of China near Jiuquan. Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Silk Road Crosses the Great Wall
Smokestacks are visible behind the Great Wall of China near Jiuquan. Jiayu Pass, lying to the west of Jiuquan, is the western starting point of the existing Great Wall. The pass was a significant defense system to keep away enemies coming from west, and an indispensable stopping station of the ancient Silk Road.
18/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
13/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Wang Wan Yi, age 76, sits inside his home where he lives with his wife in one room carved out of the sandstone, a typical dwelling for local people in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
14/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Liang Jun Qin, age 72, prepares a fire to cook noodles for lunch. She lives with her husband in one room carved out of the sandstone, a typical dwelling for local people in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
14/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Wang Wan Yi, age 76, adjusts the sunlight point on a solar device used to boil his kettle. He lives with his wife in one room carved out of the sandstone, a typical dwelling for local people in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
14/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Wang Wan Yi, age 76, and Linang Jun Qin, age 72, eat noodles in their one room home carved out of the sandstone, a typical dwelling for local people in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
14/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
A mother stands holding her 2 children in the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
13/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
A woman rakes grass in the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road. Nanping is threatened by drought, one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
13/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Landscape surrounding the small village of Nanping along the route of the Silk Road, which is threatened by drought. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
13/08/2009

Drought Affected Village Along Silk Road
Ding Cheng Quan, director of Nanping village,stands beside a well in his small village. He fears the water shortage and drought will leave the village with no drinking or crop water. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
13/08/2009

Water Shortage Along the Silk Road
Wang Zhi Ping, age 46, travels with his mule to get fresh drinking water. The journey is 4 hours round trip from his home in Zhai Ke Village. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
14/08/2009

Wind Farm Along Silk Road
Da Ban Cheng wind farm is one of the largest wind farms in China with a total of 200 wind turbines. The wind farm brings new 'green' jobs' to the region. China is rapidly expanding its wind power generating capacity and has set a target for renewable energy consumption of 40 percent of the market by the year 2050.
23/08/2009

Wind Turbine Factory Along the Silk Road
Jiu Quan wind turbine factory brings new 'green' jobs' to the Gansu province. China is rapidly expanding its wind power generating capacity and has set a target for renewable energy consumption of 40 percent of the market by the year 2050.
17/08/2009

Wind Turbine Factory Along the Silk Road
A worker stands in front of wind turbines that are being built at the Jiu Quan wind turbine factory. The factory brings new 'green' jobs' to the Gansu province. China is rapidly expanding its wind power generating capacity and has set a target for renewable energy consumption of 40 percent of the market by the year 2050.
17/08/2009

Portrait of workers at a wind farm in Guazhou. The wind farm brings new 'green' jobs' to the region. China is rapidly expanding its wind power generating capacity and has set a target for renewable energy consumption of 40 percent of the market by the year 2050.

Tang Dynasty Ruin Along Silk Road
A Tang Dynasty ruin built along the Silk Road now sits by a river disappearing as a result of severe drought in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
21/08/2009

Tang Dynasty Ruin Along Silk Road
A Tang Dynasty ruin built along the Silk Road now sits by a river disappearing as a result of severe drought in the region. Drought is one of the most harmful natural hazards in Northwest China. Climate change has a significant impact on China's environment and economy.
21/08/2009

City of Dunhuang Along Silk Road
Dunhuang, located at the far western end of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, is an oasis surrounded by desert. The total area of Dunhuang is 31,200 square kilometres, but only 1,400 square kilometres have habitable living conditions.The city is taking steps to halt increasing desertification. The local government in Dunhuang, a county-level city, has launched a range of water-saving measures to try to tackle the problem.
19/08/2009

Camel Riding Park Along Silk Road
A camel riding and entertainment park located in the city of Dunhuang. The city is taking steps to halt increasing desertification. The local government in Dunhuang, a county-level city, has launched a range of water-saving measures to try to tackle the problem.
19/08/2009

Camel Riding Park Along Silk Road
Aerial view of a herd of camels from a camel riding and entertainment park located in the city of Dunhuang. The city is taking steps to halt increasing desertification. The local government in Dunhuang, a county-level city, has launched a range of water-saving measures to try to tackle the problem.
19/08/2009

Crescent Moon Spring Along the Silk Road.
However since the 1970’s owing to climate change, tourism and industrialisation the lake started to shrink dramatically in size and depth. Concerned scientists and environmentalists are looking at a change in glacial melt from the distant Qilian Mountains that feeds the Dang River as likelihood for the disappearing lake.

Nature Reserve Along Silk Road
The landscape within the Dunhuang Yangguan National Nature Reserve is affected by desertification. The forest was planted in 1953 to protect Dunhuang City against destructive elements of the Kumutage Desert. The desert is expanding because the local Shule River holds less water, losing its grip on its banks and giving sand a chance to roam free. Increased population, agriculture and climate change have created a problem of desertification.
20/08/2009

Vineyard Owner on Silk Road
Wang Zhi Qiang, age 42, owns a vineyard in the Dunhuang Yangguan National Nature Reserve. He is worried about the increasing strength of the desert sand storms damaging his grapes. The forest was planted in 1953 to protect Dunhuang City against destructive elements of the Kumutage Desert. The Desert is expanding because the local Shule River holds less water, losing its grip on its banks and giving sand a chance to roam free. Increased population, agriculture and climate change have created a problem of desertification.
20/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
Li Zhen, age 37, is a scientist working at the research station of Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier). He works at a computer inside the research station, where scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.
16/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
The Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier) in the Qilianshan Mountains. Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the Qiyi Glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.
16/08/2009

Urumqi No.1 Glacier in China
A Greenpeace campaigner holds an archival photo of Urumqi No.1 Glacier at the site of the current glacier to demonstrate the retreat of the glacier over a 20 years span. The rapid shrinking of No 1 Glacier, located on Tian Shan Mountains, is a clear warning of the reality of climate change. Environmental information shows that the rapid melting of the glacier will cause serious natural disasters such mud and rock slides. Also there will be a reduction in glacial runoff which will affect freshwater resources at lower regions.
24/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
The Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier) in the Qilianshan Mountains. Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the Qiyi Glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.
16/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
The Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier) in the Qilianshan Mountains. Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the Qiyi Glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.
16/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
Li Zhen, age 37, is a scientist working at the research station of Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier). Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.
16/08/2009

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
Li Zhen, age 37, is a scientist working at the research station of Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier). Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.

Qiyi Glacier Along Silk Road
Li Zhen, age 37, is a scientist working at the research station of Qiyi Glacier (also known as July-First Glacier). Scientists have used radar to measure the thickness of the glacier. The research team observed that the whole glacier had been shortened by an average of 19.6 m, with the thickness at its edges reduced by at least 50 m in the past two decades.