On April 20, the 2025 "Beautiful China · Youth Action" Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities were officially launched at Beijing's Wenyu River Park. Jointly organized by the Communist Youth League of China, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and Beijing Forestry University (BFU), this national campaign aims to mobilize youth participation in advancing China's ecological civilization. The program will run through December 2025.

The launch ceremony featured a vibrant "Green Bazaar" organized by more than 30 student associations and environmental groups from leading Beijing universities, including BFU, Renmin University of China and Communication University of China. Through interactive workshops, eco-conscious handicrafts and sustainability-themed quizzes, participants immersed themselves in experiential activities designed to promote environmentally friendly practices. The event successfully attracted over 5,000 local residents and visitors, effectively disseminating ecological civilization concepts through engaging public participation.

The second National Youth Green Technology Innovation Competition was launched under the theme "Cultivating Green Productivity for Beautiful China Construction." The competition focuses on key areas, including rural revitalization with green ecological chains, food conservation and public health, aiming to galvanize youth participation in eco-innovation. Additionally, an eco-culture promotion campaign was initiated with flagship projects such as the ecological dance poetry "Symbiosis", the media project "Owning a Garden," and the "Youth Talks on Ecological Civilization" program to spread green ecological culture.

The launch ceremony included a flag presentation ceremony for the Green Long March expedition teams. University teams nationwide will conduct field research across China's key ecological zones on mountain resource management, soil-water conservation, and forest ecosystem assessments and other fields aligned with the seven core ecosystems "mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, lake, and desert," as well as research on green-oriented transition and carbon peak and neutrality solutions.

The event also marked the launch of Beijing's "Green Consultation for Rural Revitalization" activity. Under this program, universities in the capital will partner with rural communities to provide tailored green development services, offering one-on-one consultation in areas including ecological planning and biodiversity protection. This collaboration aims to facilitate technological upgrading in rural areas while promoting ecological civilization awareness among residents.

Based on the Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities, BFU partnered with Chaoyang Cultural Tourism Group to establish the "Wenyu River Eco-Classroom", aiming to create a model for nature education.Wang Hongyuan, chairman of University Council, BFU, emphasized that the Green Bridge and Green Long March Activities will serve as key platforms for educating young people about ecological conservation and promoting green development concepts.

Since its inception by BFU in 1984, the activities have pioneered over 20 original eco-education programs, organized 8,000+ unique activities across 312 cities and counties, and engaged more than 500,000 participants. These efforts align with China's national strategy to build an ecological civilization, cementing the program's role as a cornerstone of youth-driven environmental action.

Written by Zhao Pengfei, Li Tianshi
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang