Distinguished judges, dear friends. Let me tell you a story.

It begins with a single drop of water in the mountains of southwestern China, then flows into rivers, civilizations, songs, and the hearts of young people across continents.

This is Qujing, where water becomes culture. Every story has a beginning. Ours starts in Qujing, a land of geographical wonder. One drop feeds three rivers, one ridge divides two watersheds. Qujing is not simply a starting point,but the birthplace of a civilization.Here stands Maxiong Mountain, cradle of the Pearl River. Rain and mist pass through karst caves,and emerge as endless springs. Over thousands of years,nature patiently shaped not only a river, but also the people and culture along its banks.

For centuries, scholars debated the true source of the Pearl River. Then, more than 300 years ago, the great Chinese geographer Xu Xiake followed every stream on foot. At last, on the eastern slope of Maxiong Mountain, he found the answer: the Nanpan River begins here. From that spring, the water flows southward, gathering streams and becoming the lifeline of the region.

Yet the Nanpan carries more than water. It carries memory, culture, and identity.

Along its banks flourished the Cuan culture, which left behind the famous Cuan Baozi Stele. Even the Chinese character "爨"(Cuan) tells a story of life itself. At the top, it resembles rising hands. In the middle, two trees stand side by side. And at the bottom, fire burns beneath a cooking pot. The character itself feels alive, filled with warmth, community, and the memory of ancient life. These calligraphic strokes are more than writing, they are voices from the past. The river gave life to art and preserved the spirit of a people across centuries.

Further downstream lies the Duoyi River, home of the Buyi people. Here, waterfalls thunder through the valleys, ancient waterwheels turn beside the river, and traditional "Eight Instruments Sitting Singing" echoes beside the water. The Cuan carved their stories into stone, the Buyi let theirs flow with the river itself.

These photos were taken this April at the Source of the Pearl River, during the event "Tracing the Source, Sharing the River." The gathering carried a simple but powerful message: one source can connect an entire river basin. From ancient water rituals to today's youth exchanges, respect for rivers continues across generations.

The Volga witnessed Russian epics. The Nanpan carries the living culture of southern China. Different rivers, different histories. Yet through young people, they share the same spirit. Waters may never meet, but hearts can. Rivers become bridges of friendship across cultures and generations.

Xu Xiake traced rivers to discover their origins. Today, we listen for the echoes they leave behind. Upstream, we seek the beginnings of civilization. Downstream, we hear the future carried in songs. May the source water flow forever. Thank you.