Xi'an, Shaanxi: Digital IP 'Qin Xiaowei' encourages public participation in Qinling ecological conservation

Alpine meadow in Qinling Zhongnanshan UNESCO Global Geopark. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

As Xi'an's natural ecological barrier and a critical water-source conservation area, the Qinling Mountains have long been under rigorous stewardship by the Xi'an municipal government. A multi-pronged framework, featuring legislation-driven protection, planning-based governance, smart monitoring and systematic restoration, has been put in place, shifting conservation efforts from ad hoc rectification to regularized, long-term governance.

"Qin Xiaowei" is a digital intellectual property (IP) developed by Xi'an for Qinling ecological conservation in Shaanxi province. It was selected for a national-level brand project in May this year. A nationwide public call for submissions for the IP's public-interest visual character opened on Sept. 1 and will close on Nov. 21. Winning designs will be applied to cultural and creative blind boxes, merchandise, offline exhibitions and touring programs for primary and secondary schools, helping grassroots creators reach broader audiences.

Through the "Qin Xiaowei" digital IP, specialized ecological concepts, including ecological redline management, biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration, are translated into easy-to-understand narratives and visual symbols for the public. Digital offerings such as virtual mountain patrols, interactive ecological e-maps and 720-degree VR panoramic cloud exhibitions break geographic barriers, allowing the public to enjoy immersive experiences of the Qinling Mountains without having to trek deep into the terrain.

Supported by the Xi'an Qinling Conservation Volunteers Alliance, science outreach classes are delivered on campuses and wetland patrol outreach activities are organized in communities. Conservation advocacy also extends to mountain passes, with nearly 100 science-popularization events held in a single year.

The Digital Qinling initiative is upgrading conservation management from traditional manual patrols to a three-dimensional monitoring network. Video surveillance deployed at mountain passes guards access points; drones conduct patrols over key areas; satellite remote sensing periodically identifies changes in surface landscapes; and community grid workers perform on-site verification. The comprehensive Digital Qinling supervision platform integrates multi-source monitoring data to form a multi-layered protection system that combines human oversight, physical safeguards and technological tools.

Sound Qinling conservation requires not only a firm defense of ecological bottom lines, but also well-told stories of ecological progress. While reinforcing institutional constraints, Xi'an is deepening cultural communication to spread Qinling conservation stories beyond local boundaries and garner wider public attention and resonance.