Lukasz Madrzynski talks with his friend, He Tao. (Photo/Lijiang.CN)
“When I saw online that Lijiang had such rich nature and culture, and I also had friends here, I decided to come and take a look,” said Lukasz Madrzynski. And that was eight years ago. Madrzynski, the 41-year-old from Poland, is now known in Chinese as Meng Jushi. What started as a short visit gradually became a long-term life and career rooted in environmental education and local conservation work.
Madrzynski is a co-founder of Wild Mountain (Wild Mountain Education Consulting Ltd.), a Lijiang-based organization focused on biodiversity conservation, nature education, and community engagement. He is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) and was recognized as a 2024 CEC regional awardee.
In Lijiang, many people call him “Teacher Meng.” Over the past few years, he and his colleagues have run practical courses and field activities that bring wetlands, forests, and local wildlife observation into learning. They guide children in identifying plants, birds, and animals outdoors and in better understanding the relationship between people and nature. Through community events and outreach materials, they also work to make conservation ideas more accessible to residents.
In Wenhai Village, He Tao, a villager, is one of his long-term local partners. The two met through conservation work and continued collaborating on efforts related to the alpine wetland and nearby forest ecosystems. Their projects have included nature education programs and summer activities for children, as well as biodiversity brochures that share local species and habitat knowledge.
For Madrzynski, these first-hand observations help keep nature education grounded in real ecological conditions. In Xuehua Village, Yulong Snow Mountain ranger Lu Wanjiang offers another point of connection, closer to patrol work in the mountains. Madrzynski converses with the locals on recent wildlife sightings, seasonal changes, habitat conditions, and field experience.
Outside work, he spends time in local markets and enjoys simple Lijiang foods such as hot liangfen and chicken rice noodles. He sees Lijiang’s appeal not only in its landscapes but also in its longstanding openness, which allows newcomers, merchants, and travelers alike to find a foothold and become part of the community. Eight years on, he plans to continue living there, likely for the decades to come.