Recently, Prof. Cao Min, deputy director of XTBG, led a team to Yuanjiang River Vally to identify appropriate site for the Ecological Research Station on Dry and Hot Valley Ecosystems.

With the help of local officials, team members made excursions to three candidate field sites. Intensive field investigations showed that the vegetation types in the three places are representative of tropical savanna, especially in "Pu Piao", a place 32 km to the south of Yuanjiang county proper, attracts the interests of team members. Final decision for the site will be made soon based on the natural and infrustructural conditions.