Trash Hunt for Gifts 捡垃圾换礼品
Reduce， reuse， recycle （3R）—these are the three principles of the waste environmental law. But how can we realize them？ This idea came to life in China in a subtle way at the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang， Northwest China’s Gansu Province.
“减少浪费，重复利用和回收产品（三R）”是废物环保法理念中的三大原则（三R原则）。但我们该如何实践它们呢？这一理念在中国西北部甘肃省敦煌的鸣沙山月牙泉风景名胜区以一种巧妙的方式成为现实。
During the peak tourist season， there would be around 20，000 visitors a day at the Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang. With this influx， the challenge of managing waste has become more pressing， putting a strain on sanitation workers. In response， the scenic area has introduced a refreshing initiative： Trash hunt for gifts. Here’s how it works： Visitors are given trash bags and encouraged to pick up litter around the site. In return， they receive small gifts featuring Dunhuang’s rich cultural heritage.
旅游旺季的时候，敦煌的鸣沙山月牙泉风景名胜区每日有大约两万名游客。随着游客的大量涌入，处理垃圾的挑战日益严峻，对环卫工人的压力也随之增大。为了应对这一问题，景区推出了一项新颖的活动：捡垃圾换礼品。操作方法如下：景区给游客发放垃圾袋，并鼓励他们在景区内拾起垃圾。作为回报，他们将得到一些展示敦煌丰富文化遗产的小礼品。
Inspired by the initiative， we thought， “Isn’t this another splendid form of the three Rs principle？”
受此倡议启发，我们认为：“这不正是三R原则的又一绝妙实践吗？”
We still remember going to some scenic spots， especially historical sites where people gather in a small area， and seeing uncivilized behavior of littering is something we always have to deal with. Not only does it impact the cleanliness of a site， but it also threatens the natural environment.
我们依然记得去过一些景点，尤其是那些人员聚集在小块区域的历史遗址，会有乱扔垃圾的不文明行为，这是我们不得不解决的问题。这不仅影响景区的清洁，还对自然环境构成了威胁。
So， when we saw how the “Trash hunt for gifts” system was implemented， it was clear the innovative campaign does more than just cleaning up the area. It turns every visitor into an environmental steward， actively participating in preserving the beauty of the site.
因此，当我们目睹“捡垃圾换礼品”活动的实施时，我们明白这项创新的活动不止是简单的环境清洁。它让每位游客都成为环境的守护者，积极参与保护景区的自然美景。
This concept is also not unique to Dunhuang. Similar initiatives are thriving across China： in Jiangxi’s Wu-kung Mountain， in Xi’an Lin Tong， all around.
这种倡议并非敦煌独有，类似的举措正在中国各地蓬勃发展：无论是江西的武功山，还是西安临潼，到处都有其身影。
This new trend of turning tourists into environmental stewards is a promising step toward ensuring that our scenic spots remain pristine for generations to come. It’s a reminder that while we enjoy the beauty of our surroundings， we also have the power to protect it.
这种让游客成为环境保护者的新趋势，是确保我们的风景区世代保持原始之美的一大希望。这提醒我们，在欣赏自然美景的同时，我们也拥有保护这些美景的力量。
Word Bank
implement /'ɪmplɪment/ v. 实施，执行
steward /'stjuːəd/ n.（公共活动的）组织者
pristine /'prɪstiːn/ adj. 处于原始状态的