Exhibition presents natural wonders of two river basins

A natural ecosystem exhibition highlighting the geological evolution, biodiversity and ecological conservation of the Yellow River and Haihe River basins opened at the National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing on Tuesday.

Jointly organized by the National Natural History Museum of China and the Tianjin Natural History Museum, the exhibition, titled Nurturing With Flowing — The Natural Ecosystem of the Yellow River and the Haihe River Basins, features 55 exhibits or sets of exhibits, including fossils, specimens of living plants and animals, and items related to intangible cultural heritage.

The exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the natural evolution and ecological changes of the two river basins, while highlighting achievements in ecological conservation and the development of ecological civilization in the new era.

The Yellow River, China's second-longest river, has shaped vast landscapes and nurtured the development of Chinese civilization. The Haihe River Basin stretches from the Bohai Sea in the east to the Taihang Mountains in the west, with the Yellow River Basin to the south and the southern edge of the Inner Mongolian Plateau to the north. The basin has sustained the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and witnessed profound changes across the North China Plain.

The exhibition is divided into three sections. The first focuses on geological evolution, tracing the formation of the river systems of the Yellow River and Haihe River basins and introducing major paleontological discoveries.

The second explores biodiversity in the two basins. Rare specimens, including the North China leopard and Tibetan antelope, are displayed alongside representative species of plants and animals.

The third section showcases major achievements in ecological conservation and governance in the two river basins, together with a selection of diverse intangible cultural heritage.

The exhibition is free to the public and will run through Dec 13.