Yangtze post office draws tourists, environmentalists

A post office named after the Yangtze, China's longest river, has attracted tourists and environmentalists since it opened in September.

"Yangtze No.1," located in plateau township of Tanggula, Golmud City in northwest China's Qinghai province, is the first post office named after the river.

Since last month, a growing number of tourists to the plateau have stopped at the post office, which is located at the base of Green River, an environmental protection NGO.

"Workers and volunteers have delivered packages and letters for herders, soldiers and workers near Tanggula, while spreading the word on environmental protection," said Yang Xin, president of Green River, on the World Post Day, Oct. 9.

Yang said 11 post offices are planned in the 11 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions along Yangtze.

The post office is built of energy-saving materials and powered by solar energy. Tourists can stop by, send post cards, buy souvenirs and share environment protection stories with workers and volunteers at the post office.

The Yangtze basin covers 1.8 million square kilometers. The river links major cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing. Endi