-- Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, stands as both a spiritual beacon and an economic engine. Drawing millions of pilgrims and tourists annually, the mountain's steep, ancient paths are lined with monasteries, hotels, teahouses, and souvenir stalls, supporting a thriving local economy reliant on the continuous flow of goods and visitors. This high-altitude commerce, however, is supported by a decades-old, often brutal logistical reality: the use of mules to carry heavy supplies.
For generations, these hardy working animals have been the backbone of the mountain's supply chain, navigating slippery, stone-paved trails inaccessible to modern vehicles. While essential to the economy, this practice has been shadowed by systemic reports of animal mistreatment. Mules routinely carry loads far exceeding recommended limits, work through exhaustion, and suffer from painful open sores caused by ill-fitting or constant harnesses. For visitors, the sight of these overworked animals, standing in stark ethical contrast to the mountain's spiritual significance, is a growing source of distress.
Jane Xu's Online Spark Ignites Offline Action
This hidden suffering was brought to the forefront by Jane Xu (Jing Xu), a young professional with a deep-seated empathy for animals. Jane first encountered the issue during personal visits to Emei Shan and began documenting the mules’ conditions in heartfelt posts and short videos. Starting with simple, yet persistent, comments and content shared across major Chinese social media platforms like Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (Red Notes), she appealed to public consciousness.
Her initial efforts quickly went viral, resonating with a digitally native, socially conscious audience increasingly sensitive to animal welfare issues. The response was electric, soon leading to direct contact from established, but previously scattered, animal welfare activists. United by Jane’s posts, they formed a cohesive collective dedicated to reform on Emei Shan.
The collective immediately shifted strategy, moving offline to engage local authorities and mountain management officials. Initial meetings were surprisingly positive, with officials acknowledging the visible suffering and expressing a shared desire for improvement. However, officials also voiced a deep-seated frustration: the mule trade is inextricably linked to the livelihoods of many local residents. They explained the difficulty of policing operations that provide essential income, noting that implementing immediate, sweeping change risks destroying the local economic ecosystem without a viable, cost-effective alternative in place. The consensus was clear: change would be gradual and difficult.
Consumer Awareness: The New Strategy
This reality check led Jane and the activists to a critical strategic pivot. They concluded that sustained, systemic change would not come solely from top-down regulation, but from the bottom-up pressure of informed consumer choice.
The campaign’s focus has since centered on raising public awareness so that tourists will actively choose not to purchase goods that have been visibly transported by mules. The goal is to fundamentally shift the economic viability toward alternative, modern transport methods, such as the use of cable cars or drones for bulk supply delivery, thereby phasing out the need for animal labor.
Jane Xu’s dedication stems from a profound personal history. Raised in rural China, her early life was balanced by a strong fascination with the compassion and ethical themes present in Western media, particularly classic Disney films. She admits she never expected her casual social media comments to spark a national movement. “I feel beyond blessed that this small effort has grown into something that can genuinely help these animals,” she shared. Her empathy was further solidified by her own health journey: after struggling with Lupus, she adopted a plant-based diet, which she credits with her full recovery, strengthening her commitment to non-violence and ethical living.
A New Wave of Animal Activism in China
Jane’s success counters international stereotypes often associated with China's animal welfare standards. Her campaign is a clear signal of a massive, rapidly growing domestic movement. A significant portion of the country’s younger generation is driving a powerful shift in societal values, embracing pet ownership and demonstrating greater empathy for working animals. The increasing visibility of vegan and plant-based communities, of which Jane is a member, further signals a cultural evolution toward greater compassion and ethical consumption.
The movement on Emei Shan is therefore not an isolated incident, but a microcosm of this national trend, demonstrating that grassroots digital activism can translate into real-world change, paving the way for a more compassionate and modern approach to mountain tourism and logistics.
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