KUNMING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 170 students from over 30 countries have joined college teachers and students in southwest China's Yunnan Province to protect the local environment.

The volunteers carried out activities near Erhai Lake in the city of Dali on Wednesday, calling for more young people to pay attention to the protection of the picturesque lake.

According to the Yunnan provincial committee of the Communist Youth League, the overseas volunteers are from countries such as Russia, India, Kazakhstan and Thailand. They will take part in tree planting, art making and trekking activities.