While the source lake is still ice and snow bound, the team made important observations at the high pass, where the watershed is the divide between the Salween and the Irrawaddy.  In verifying a Beijing remote sensing expert’s account that the high alpine lake in Zayu is the scientific source of the great river, the CERS team discovered that under the snow, there is a major stream that feeds the lake which can be traced for another 1.4 kilometers.  Just two ridges away is another tributary source, which in length is only 40 meters different, thus justifying calling the Irrawaddy source a twin source.

Hailing from California, USA, Wong How Man is the Founder President of the China Research & Exploration Society.  Being “China’s most accomplished explorer”, Time Magazine has honoured Mr Wong as one of their 25 Asian Heroes.  In a career spanning 30 years of exploration in remote China together with neighbouring countries, Wong How Man is a veteran at the National Geographic, having led six major expeditions for the magazine.  In 1986, he founded the China Exploration & Research Society, which expanded his exploration work to conservation of China’s natural and cultural heritage.  He has authored 15 books and innumerable articles, and his work has been featured often on CNN, National Geographic Channel and many other media. 
 

Members of the RGS, their guests and others are most welcome to attend this event, which is HK$150 for RGS Members and HK$200 for guests and others, including a complimentary glass of wine.

The Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong wishes to express its thanks to UBS for its generous assistance with this lecture.