The great thaw

A forested path that leads to the glacier.[Photo by Shi Wenzhi/China Daily]

Village in the foothills

Deqen county, which is part of the Diqing Tibet autonomous prefecture, has a forested area that is among the world's richest in biodiversity. The valley's surrounding mountains are home to rare species, such as the snub-nosed monkey, snow leopard and the Tibetan pheasant. The vegetation in this part of Yunnan straddles the temperate and tropical worlds.

The melting of the Mingyong glacier will likely affect the local flora and fauna, and the river ecosystem in the long term.

For domestic animals like yaks, used to life at high altitudes, an eventually warmer place would mean altering their natural environment and increasing the risks of infectious diseases, Nasheng Duji, a senior official with the county government's agriculture bureau, says in Deqen town.