Experts pose for a photo during their visit to the Tianmu Mountain-Qingliang Peak Biosphere Reserve. [Photo/WeChat account: linanfabu]

Following the close of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, more than 200 experts from 136 countries and regions on Sept 26 visited the Tianmu Mountain-Qingliang Peak Biosphere Reserve, the only UNESCO biosphere reserve in Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

Walking among ancient Chinese hemlocks, Hiram Eliud Bernal Perez from the New Leon Environmental Secretariat in Mexico embraced one of the towering trees, praising China's long-standing protection traditions.

German professor Erik Aschenbrand, from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, admired the King of Trees — noting that even in decline, it nurtures biodiversity and sustains the forest ecosystem.

At the Tianmu Mountain Eco-Education Center and in Yueliangqiao village, delegates witnessed how conservation links with community life.

From nature education and tourism to the global sale of local delicacies like Tianmu bamboo shoots, experts highlighted the balance between ecological protection and sustainable livelihoods.

As the sun set over the fields and villages, the visit underscored how Tianmu Mountain embodies the spirit of the Hangzhou Declaration: A living example of biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage and community well-being woven together.

Mexican delegate Hiram Eliud Bernal Perez hugs an ancient cryptomeria tree. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]