He describes how the plant"s translucent bracts wrap around the flowering stem like a greenhouse, trapping heat and blocking UV radiation in the harsh alpine environment.

　　"One bloom after decades of waiting. It teaches you that some things are worth waiting for," he says.

　　Potatso covers more than 600 square kilometers and contains a range of ecosystems, including forests, lakes, wetlands, meadows and snowcapped peaks. Its elevation ranges from 2,300 to 4,670 meters, creating a natural laboratory where scientists monitor water, air, soil and wildlife around the clock.

　　One of the clearest signs of the forest"s health hangs from the branches above.

　　Wang points to pale gray-green lichen draping from spruce and fir trees.

　　"We call it "tree beard"," she says. "It only grows where the air is clean. Scientists use it as an indicator of environmental conditions."

　　The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including black-necked cranes, clouded leopards and red pandas. The most visible residents, however, are often the small squirrels darting across the boardwalks.

　　"Don"t feed them," Wang reminds her visitors. "They are wild animals and need to forage naturally. If they become dependent on human food, they may lose their ability to survive on their own."

　　Visitors tour Potatso National Park. [Photo provided to China Daily]

　　Changing lives

　　After years of guiding visitors through the park, Wang has come to see Potatso"s story not only as one of forests and wildlife, but of people learning to live alongside nature.

　　For generations, local Tibetan, Yi, Naxi and Lisu communities depended on the surrounding forests for timber and grazing. Today, many residents have become partners in conservation.