美麗中國(guó)第五集 熊貓之地Land of the Panda

[00:04.00]NARRATOR: Protected by the Great Wall in the north, [00:06.52] [00:06.60]and fed by the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, [00:09.36] [00:09.44]China's eastern heartland is the centre of a flourishing civilisation [00:14.00] [00:14.08]which spans more than 5,000 years. [00:16.60] [00:20.96]To outsiders this is a mysterious land. [00:24.48] [00:34.72]It contains dazzling man-made structures. [00:37.48] [00:45.60]And it's home to some of China's rarest and most charismatic creatures. [00:50.00] [00:52.88](ROARING) [00:54.36] [00:56.72]The people who live here, the Han Chinese, [00:59.72] [00:59.80]comprise the largest ethnic group in the world, [01:02.84] [01:02.92]and their language, Mandarin, [01:04.96] [01:05.04]is the world's oldest and most widely spoken language. [01:08.48] [01:11.92](SPEAKING CHINESE) [01:13.80] [01:19.24]In the last 50 years China has seen massive development, [01:24.44] [01:24.52]bringing many environmental problems. [01:27.16] [01:33.12]But the relationship of the Chinese to their environment and its creatures [01:37.44] [01:37.52]is in fact deep, complex and extraordinary. [01:41.68] [01:45.12]In this programme we will look for clues to this ancient relationship [01:49.04] [01:49.12]and what it means for the future of China. [01:52.32] [02:26.32]Our journey starts at the very heart of China, Beijing. [02:30.32] [02:31.48]China's capital is a vast metropolis, home to 15 million people. [02:36.24] [02:41.88]This bustling modern city seems an unlikely place [02:45.04] [02:45.12]for traditional beliefs and customs. [02:47.68] [02:47.76]But beneath the contemporary veneer, [02:50.04] [02:50.12]it's possible to see glimpses of a far older China. [02:53.36] [03:02.24]Every morning, people head to the parks around the Forbidden City, [03:05.92] [03:06.00]to continue a custom which is centuries old. [03:08.96] [03:24.04]Many Chinese keep birds as companions, [03:26.84] [03:26.92]specifically a type of laughing thrush from southern China. [03:31.28] [03:31.36]But they know that cooped up indoors, birds may become depressed. [03:35.20] [03:35.28]So they try to brighten their day by meeting other birds. [03:39.16] [03:39.24](BIRDS TWITTERING) [03:41.56] [03:51.08]This surprising scene in the heart of modern Beijing [03:54.64] [03:54.72]is a clue to China's oldest spiritual ambition, [03:58.28] [03:58.36]the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. [04:02.16] [04:06.52](WHISTLING) [04:08.00] [04:08.08](BIRDS CHIRPING) [04:09.64] [04:10.16]But from the 1950s onwards, [04:12.28] [04:12.36]this ancient belief was to be severely challenged. [04:15.56] [04:27.20]After a century of humiliation and intervention by foreign powers, [04:31.44] [04:31.52]Chairman Mao sought to rebuild China's dignity. [04:34.60] [04:43.12]Mao believed strongly in self-reliance, [04:45.88] [04:45.96]achieved through using all of nature's resources. [04:49.40] [04:55.00]Mao's first concern was to feed the Chinese people [04:58.12] [04:58.20]by turning as much land as possible over to grain production, [05:02.04] [05:02.12]destroying non-cereal crops [05:04.08] [05:04.16]and uprooting fruit trees in the process. [05:06.92] [05:12.72]A campaign to eliminate crop-raiding sparrows backfired [05:16.36] [05:16.44]when insect-eating birds were also targeted, [05:19.52] [05:19.60]causing an increase in insect pests. [05:22.24] [05:30.64]Efforts to make China self-reliant in steel [05:33.44] [05:33.52]resulted in 10% of the country's forests being felled to feed the furnaces. [05:38.28] [05:44.84]This had a profound impact on China's environment, [05:48.68] [05:48.76]with effects, in some cases, lasting until the present day. [05:52.44] [05:56.80]Mao's policy towards the countryside has been described in the phrase, [06:00.80] [06:00.88]"Man must conquer nature." [06:03.44] [06:03.52]Quite different from the ancient concept of harmonious co-existence with nature. [06:08.32] [06:13.16]As modern China engages with the outside world, [06:16.32] [06:16.40]which of these attitudes seems likely to prevail? [06:19.52] [06:21.12]To find the answers, [06:22.56] [06:22.64]we'll travel to the far reaches of the heartland [06:25.52] [06:25.60]to see how its traditional cultures and unique creatures are faring today. [06:30.48] [06:36.44]Beijing has always depended on the North China Plain, [06:40.20] [06:40.28]a rich farmland twice the size of the UK. [06:43.00] [06:45.36]The fertility of this plain derives from further west, [06:49.28] [06:49.36]from the Loess Plateau. [06:51.24] [06:59.68]The mineral-rich soil of the Loess Plateau is incredibly fertile. [07:03.72] [07:06.40]People have lived here for thousands of years, [07:10.20] [07:10.28]hollowing their homes out of the soft soil. [07:13.12] [07:13.64](WOMAN SPEAKING CHINESE) [07:15.68] [07:17.88]The caves might lack the glamour of Beijing, [07:19.88] [07:19.96]but people can survive here. [07:22.52] [07:22.60]Warm, secure, but best of all, well fed. [07:26.56] [07:32.16](WOMAN LAUGHING) [07:33.80] [07:35.48]As a result of centuries of farming, [07:37.92] [07:38.00]the landscape has become scarred with thousands of water-worn gullies. [07:42.24] [07:47.16]But this spectacular erosion has had an unexpected benefit. [07:51.00] [07:52.84]The streams which drain the gullies [07:54.52] [07:54.60]carry the fertile yellow soil into the plateau's major river, [07:58.40] [08:01.76]known to the Han people as the Mother of Chinese civilisation. [08:06.12] [08:15.44]This is the Yellow River. [08:18.04] [08:26.16]Each year the Yellow River carries billions of tons of sediment [08:29.32] [08:29.40]from the Loess Plateau [08:30.88] [08:30.96]eastwards to the crop fields of the Chinese heartland. [08:34.40] [08:44.48]Historically, the Chinese relationship with the river has been uneasy. [08:49.24] [08:49.32]Sediment, building up on the riverbed, has caused the Yellow River [08:52.56] [08:52.64]to burst its banks periodically, [08:54.96] [08:55.04]unleashing devastating floods, resulting in millions of deaths. [08:59.60] [09:10.56]But when tamed with dykes and channels, the river's bounty is legendary. [09:15.28] [09:20.60]Even today, half of China's wheat comes from the Yellow River floodplain. [09:25.08] [09:34.52]For thousands of years, the sediment-rich Yellow River [09:37.40] [09:37.48]has underpinned the prosperity of the Chinese heartland. [09:41.48] [09:41.56]But increased demand for water by people and industry [09:44.84] [09:44.92]now threaten to run the river dry. [09:47.36] [10:02.52]And the source of its fertility, the Loess Plateau, is also under threat. [10:08.00] [10:08.08]Loosened by cultivation, its soft soil is blowing away. [10:12.48] [10:21.96]The North China Plain is choked with dust storms [10:25.08] [10:25.16]that even loom over Beijing, [10:27.80] [10:27.88]so much so that the Chinese government [10:30.40] [10:30.48]has made improving the city's air quality a priority [10:33.92] [10:34.00]in the run up to the Beijing Olympics. [10:36.64] [10:38.40]Heartland China's life-support system is in trouble. [10:42.32] [10:42.40]Yet in a few places it's still possible to find landscapes [10:46.36] [10:46.44]that appear to have remained untouched. [10:49.16] [10:54.48]At the southern edge of the North China Plain [10:57.24] [10:57.32]lie the Qinling Mountains. [10:59.84] [10:59.92]At 1,500 kilometres long, [11:02.36] [11:02.44]they run like a backbone through the middle of China. [11:05.80] [11:22.92]Deep within the mountains is a maze of remote valleys and forests, [11:27.36] [11:27.44]home to strange and wonderful creatures. [11:30.20] [11:30.28](MONKEYS CALLING) [11:32.00] [11:33.28]These are golden snub-nosed monkeys, a species unique to China. [11:38.28] [11:43.80]Seldom seen, they are frequently heard. [11:47.28] [11:47.36]Their strange child-like calls and extraordinary appearance [11:51.44] [11:51.52]may have inspired the local tales [11:53.80] [11:53.88]of a Yeti-like wild man of the mountains. [11:56.84] [12:07.32]As winter temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius, [12:11.12] [12:11.20]their dense fur keeps them warm. [12:13.88] [12:17.76]Mutual grooming not only keeps their precious fur in good condition, [12:22.08] [12:22.16]but also helps to reinforce bonds within the troop. [12:25.44] [12:38.36]In summer, the monkeys go around in huge bands, [12:41.68] [12:41.76]but at this lean time of the year [12:43.68] [12:43.76]they split up into smaller foraging parties. [12:46.68] [13:10.28]In the dead of winter, [13:11.92] [13:12.00]the monkeys are forced to rummage around the rocks [13:14.48] [13:14.56]for a few meagre morsels of lichen and moss. [13:17.48] [13:24.32]As the world surrounding their mountain home [13:26.40] [13:26.48]has filled up with towns and crop lands, [13:29.36] [13:29.44]the snub-nosed monkeys' habitat has changed dramatically. [13:33.84] [13:33.92]Today there are just 10,000 left in existence. [13:37.08] [13:39.64](SAWING) [13:41.16] [13:47.52]To the people who live in the Qinling Mountains, [13:50.32] [13:50.40]the forest and its wildlife are a resource to be used, [13:54.76] [13:54.84]the basis of their livelihood. [13:57.12] [14:00.92]These people share the forest with an even more elusive inhabitant. [14:05.08] [14:05.16]It's probably China's most famous animal, [14:08.36] [14:08.44]but very few have ever seen it. [14:10.72] [14:17.64]Unlike the monkeys, this creature has a very specific diet, [14:21.68] [14:23.40]bamboo. [14:24.60] [14:30.92]It's a wild giant panda. [14:33.36] [14:43.76]Secretive, and sensitive to noise, [14:46.84] [14:46.92]the giant panda is often gone before anyone can get close to it. [14:51.44] [15:01.00]The panda has long been known in China. [15:03.92] [15:04.00]It was mentioned in dictionaries more than 2,000 years ago [15:07.88] [15:07.96]and the Imperial Garden is said to have housed one. [15:11.20] [15:14.32]In the dense bamboo of the forest one panda rarely sees another, [15:18.84] [15:18.92]instead they communicate by subtle scent signals. [15:22.68] [15:24.80]At a metre-and-a-half long and 135 kilos, [15:28.76] [15:28.84]the giant panda is a member of the bear family. [15:32.44] [15:32.52]But its bear-like digestive system is built for eating meat, [15:37.00] [15:37.08]not this tough, fibrous stuff. [15:39.32] [15:45.64]And to make matters worse, the bamboo leaves are frozen solid. [15:50.04] [15:50.12]But the panda has devised a cunning way of breaking the ice off. [15:54.48] [15:54.56]It rubs the bamboo over its snout. [15:57.28] [16:02.44]Unlike other bears, [16:03.80] [16:03.88]the panda can't fatten itself up and hibernate through the winter. [16:07.88] [16:07.96]Bamboo is so low in energy [16:09.40] [16:09.48]that the panda must spend most of the day eating. [16:12.64] [16:13.88]Once it has exhausted one area, it must move on to the next. [16:18.04] [16:21.96]The panda's paw is surprisingly un-bear-like, too. [16:25.76] [16:25.84]It's flexible, with an enlarged wrist bone [16:28.64] [16:28.72]which allows it to grasp and manoeuvre the bamboo [16:31.00] [16:31.08]with a dexterity and precision that a monkey would be proud of. [16:35.16] [16:36.44]Twisting the bamboo leaves into a cigar shape [16:39.12] [16:39.20]makes them easier to munch. [16:41.32] [16:51.96]Hungry pandas once roamed across vast tracts of bamboo-rich forest [16:56.60] [16:56.68]that covered much of China's heartland. [16:59.36] [17:05.00]But since the 1950s, [17:07.08] [17:07.16]logging has fragmented the Qinling Mountain forests. [17:10.68] [17:10.76]Its remaining wild pandas are now confined within isolated reserves. [17:15.28] [17:21.48]In the last 50 years, China's heartland has been subjected to desertification, [17:26.84] [17:26.92]drying rivers and deforestation, [17:29.76] [17:29.84]affecting not only people, but wildlife, too. [17:33.20] [17:39.16]The relationship between the Chinese people and their environment [17:42.80] [17:42.88]appears to be out of balance. [17:45.40] [17:45.48]But if we dig a little bit deeper, [17:47.56] [17:47.64]there are some surprising and intimate connections even today. [17:51.84] [17:57.08]Clues to the nature of these links can be found in everyday life, [18:01.48] [18:01.56]even in the centre of China's capital city. [18:04.36] [18:09.96]In the parks of Beijing, [18:12.08] [18:12.16]Mandarin ducks keep a close watch over their young. [18:16.16] [18:16.24]Believed by the Chinese to pair for life, [18:19.40] [18:19.48]they have been seen for centuries as a symbol of love and fidelity. [18:24.12] [18:30.32]Images of these birds are believed to improve personal relationships. [18:34.56] [18:53.92]As a result, Beijing's Mandarin ducks are highly protected. [18:58.32] [19:08.08]The alleyways of the capital's ancient hutongs [19:10.84] [19:10.92]are home to a very different kind of creature. [19:13.96] [19:16.32]Each day Zhou Guoguang tends his brood of pigeons, [19:21.00] [19:21.08]his chance to escape the pressures of city life for an hour or two. [19:25.48] [19:25.56]Up here on the rooftops, [19:27.16] [19:27.24]Zhou is confident his charges will be safe. [19:30.68] [19:30.76]But in the streets below [19:32.20] [19:32.28]lurk dangerous spirits that scavenge and steal. [19:35.84] [19:41.72]Deeper into the hutongs, the influence of modern Beijing recedes. [19:46.72] [19:56.20]These alleys are full of ancient beliefs. [19:58.92] [19:59.92](SPEAKING CHINESE) [20:01.84] [20:18.04](BICYCLE BELL RINGING) [20:19.64] [20:21.72]As night falls, spirits emerge from their hiding-places. [20:26.48] [20:30.76]The yellow weasel. [20:32.48] [20:38.44]Some people believe [20:39.88] [20:39.96]that offending this crafty predator can bring bad luck, [20:43.84] [20:43.92]so they turn a blind eye to the weasel's night-time marauding. [20:47.80] [20:51.00]Old beliefs, coupled with a rising awareness of conservation, [20:55.16] [20:55.24]are helping the yellow weasel survive in the middle of Beijing, [20:59.16] [20:59.24]despite killing the odd pigeon. [21:01.52] [21:09.72]In the south of China, [21:11.00] [21:11.08]the relationship with nature appears more brutal. [21:14.60] [21:14.68]Cantonese cuisine is famous for its diversity, [21:17.88] [21:17.96]summed up in the saying, [21:19.40] [21:19.48]"We will eat anything on four legs, except a table." [21:22.80] [21:24.64]And though the government has banned the consumption of wildlife in China [21:28.44] [21:28.52]and most of the meat here comes from captive-bred animals, [21:32.28] [21:32.36]a significant amount is taken illegally from the wild. [21:35.80] [21:53.24]This restaurant in Hong Kong specialises in serpents. [21:57.48] [21:57.56]Most are harmless rat snakes, [22:00.32] [22:00.40]but with the odd cobra on the menu, one false move could spell trouble. [22:05.32] [22:14.48]Chau Ka-Ling has lost count [22:16.40] [22:16.48]of the number of times she's been bitten, [22:19.76] [22:19.84]so she always carries a Chinese herbal remedy, [22:23.56] [22:23.64]just in case. [22:25.12] [22:27.28]We might turn our noses up at such a strange choice of food, [22:32.28] [22:32.36]but eating snakes is more than just a matter of taste. [22:35.88] [22:35.96]The Cantonese believe it can help to clean the blood, [22:39.16] [22:39.24]increase vitality and beautify the skin. [22:42.56] [22:45.72]In such a crowded land, [22:47.64] [22:47.72]a tradition of eating everything with very little waste [22:51.16] [22:51.24]could be seen as commendable thrift. [22:53.80] [22:57.76]The problem is that there are so many people [22:59.84] [22:59.92]eating wild food in south China, [23:02.16] [23:02.24]that the illegal supply chain stretches well beyond its borders, [23:06.24] [23:06.32]contributing to the disappearance of wildlife not only within China, [23:10.48] [23:10.56]but from other countries, too. [23:12.84] [23:18.32]A visit to a traditional Chinese medicine shop [23:21.28] [23:21.36]reveals another aspect of the use of animals and plants. [23:25.16] [23:27.92]Dr So has been practising for over 20 years. [23:31.04] [23:33.76]The most important part of his diagnosis is the pulse, [23:37.80] [23:37.88]examined in several places. [23:40.00] [23:43.32]Dr So also observes the colour of the tongue and eyes, [23:47.64] [23:47.72]and asks questions about the patient's taste, [23:50.88] [23:50.96]smell and even dreams. [23:53.52] [23:58.28](BOTH SPEAKING CHINESE) [24:00.32] [24:01.24]Once satisfied with his diagnosis, he'll write a prescription, [24:06.28] [24:06.36]using a script unique to doctors. [24:08.84] [24:11.56]Chinese traditional medicine [24:13.32] [24:13.40]uses an incredible array of animals, vegetables and minerals [24:17.24] [24:17.32]to treat the individual rather than the illness, [24:20.96] [24:21.04]aiming to restore the harmony of opposing but complementary forces, [24:25.44] [24:25.52]known in China as yin and yang. [24:27.96] [24:30.88]The concept is rooted in the ancient belief [24:33.16] [24:33.24]that the universe is harmonious [24:35.44] [24:35.52]and that people are intimately connected to, [24:37.72] [24:37.80]and affected by, their environment. [24:40.56] [24:44.56]Despite the seemingly bizarre nature of the ingredients, [24:48.00] [24:48.08]Chinese traditional medicine [24:49.52] [24:49.60]has been successfully treating people for thousands of years. [24:53.44] [24:58.44]But although the use of endangered wildlife ingredients [25:01.00] [25:01.08]in medicine is now banned in China, [25:03.68] [25:03.76]some wild animals and plants are still used illegally. [25:07.80] [25:07.88]Once again nature bears the cost. [25:10.40] [25:16.36]But Chinese tradition has borrowed from nature in other ways [25:19.64] [25:19.72]which are not in the least exploitative. [25:22.88] [25:22.96]In ancient Chinese philosophy, [25:25.44] [25:25.52]man was considered part of the natural world [25:28.64] [25:28.72]and able to benefit from its wisdom. [25:31.24] [25:50.28]Thousands of years ago [25:52.12] [25:52.20]Buddhist monks on sacred Shaolin Mountain [25:55.00] [25:55.08]incorporated their observations of wild creatures [25:58.40] [25:58.48]into a system of exercises [26:00.72] [26:00.80]to help the flow of energy and build strength. [26:03.80] [26:14.92]This animal-inspired art-form became kung fu. [26:19.12] [26:42.96]Today, ancient Shaolin Mountain, [26:45.68] [26:45.76]the place where kung fu began, remains its prime training centre. [26:49.76] [26:51.04]Shi Yanting is a master. [26:53.08] [26:53.92](SPEAKING CHINESE) [26:55.72] [27:01.84]Students from all over the country come here to learn [27:04.32] [27:04.40]the ancient knowledge derived from the natural world. [27:07.76] [27:22.44]The emphasis today is perhaps more on the physical [27:25.92] [27:26.00]rather than the philosophical elements that underlie kung fu, [27:30.52] [27:30.60]but it's a significant re-awakening. [27:33.16] [27:38.80]This seven-year-old [27:40.12] [27:40.20]is perfecting the devastating punch of the praying mantis. [27:44.00] [27:51.20]When combined and perfected, these animal forms, [27:54.88] [27:54.96]such as mantis, monkey and crane, become an unstoppable force. [28:00.16] [28:28.52]Ancient Chinese philosophy took nature itself [28:31.92] [28:32.00]as the inspiration for its most fabulous creature. [28:35.16] [28:36.28]Fertile rivers may have shaped this civilisation, [28:39.84] [28:39.92]but the Chinese believed [28:41.64] [28:41.72]that the rivers themselves were formed and controlled by a dragon. [28:46.60] [28:47.96]Unlike the destructive dragon of the West, [28:50.48] [28:50.56]the Chinese dragon was benevolent, [28:53.32] [28:53.40]provided it was treated with respect. [28:55.96] [29:03.72]The ancient Chinese called themselves descendents of the dragon [29:08.32] [29:08.40]and knew they needed to live harmoniously in the dragon's realm. [29:12.40] [29:16.96]This respect for the dragon [29:19.08] [29:19.16]has relevance today for a remarkable creature [29:22.12] [29:22.20]which lives around the paddy fields of China's other great river, [29:25.80] [29:25.88]the Yangtze. [29:27.28] [29:28.08](SHOUTING) [29:29.44] [29:46.68]This fearsome-looking beast is a Chinese alligator, [29:51.20] [29:51.28]known as the muddy dragon. [29:53.32] [29:54.64]Despite its association with the mythical Chinese dragon, [29:58.76] [29:58.84]the reptile has long been regarded by country people as a fish-eating pest, [30:04.36] [30:04.44]and has been persecuted almost to the point of extinction. [30:08.04] [30:15.60]There are only around 150 Chinese alligators left in the wild, [30:20.52] [30:20.60]and it's mainly down to the care and protection offered by dedicated people [30:24.12] [30:24.20]like retired farmer Chang Jin Rong that any survive at all. [30:28.88] [30:31.56]Today, most Chinese alligators live in captivity. [30:35.32] [30:35.40]At this breeding centre near Xuancheng, [30:38.32] [30:38.40]Chinese alligators gather for their extraordinary courtship. [30:42.12] [30:43.12](BELLOWING) [30:44.60] [30:50.16]The males bellow to attract a mate. [30:52.88] [30:54.00]As it travels through the water, [30:56.08] [30:56.16]the sound is both heard and felt by the female. [30:59.20] [30:59.28](BELLOWING CONTINUES) [31:01.12] [31:11.40]The bellowing is her cue to investigate. [31:14.60] [31:25.44]In the alien world of the Chinese alligator, [31:28.56] [31:28.64]these two will be able to learn much about each other [31:31.72] [31:31.80]using the scent glands under their jaws. [31:34.52] [31:38.36]Satisfied with her choice, the two swim off together before mating. [31:42.56] [31:50.76]The muddy dragon owes its continued survival [31:53.20] [31:53.28]to a government initiative a quarter of a century ago, [31:56.68] [31:56.76]which created the captive breeding centre at Xuancheng. [32:00.24] [32:09.92]Having dug a little deeper, [32:11.68] [32:11.76]it does seem that ancient beliefs about nature [32:14.08] [32:14.16]still have resonance in modern China. [32:16.76] [32:18.76]Far upstream, along one of the Yangtze's mountain tributaries, [32:22.84] [32:22.92]another ambitious conservation project [32:24.96] [32:25.04]is attempting to save China's most famous creature. [32:28.28] [32:32.28]China's first captive breeding centre for the giant panda opened in 1983. [32:36.88] [32:52.92]This is Wolong Reserve, [32:55.68] [32:55.76]a far cry from the bamboo forests where wild pandas live. [33:00.72] [33:00.80]Every spring, male and female pandas are ferried around the site [33:05.04] [33:05.12]in the hope that introductions will lead to romance. [33:08.44] [33:10.80](MEN CHATTERING) [33:12.76] [33:36.64]Scientists have been trying to encourage the pandas to breed naturally, [33:41.68] [33:41.76]but it's difficult to get the conditions right [33:44.48] [33:44.56]since few people have ever seen how panda courtship happens in the wild. [33:49.28] [33:54.16]Meanwhile, artificial insemination has proved highly successful. [33:58.64] [34:01.36]At just five weeks old, this baby needs 24-hour care. [34:06.44] [34:06.52]It's simply too precious to be entrusted to its natural mother, [34:10.84] [34:10.92]who may have little experience of parenthood. [34:13.88] [34:20.28]After initial teething problems, [34:22.64] [34:22.72]Wolong's artificial insemination programme [34:25.12] [34:25.20]has been remarkably successful. [34:28.24] [34:28.32]In 2006, the reserve reared 16 cubs, [34:33.12] [34:33.20]and there are now more captive-bred pandas at Wolong [34:36.64] [34:36.72]than can be safely released back into the shrinking wild habitat. [34:40.72] [34:44.84]In nature, giant pandas learn survival skills from their mother, [34:49.20] [34:49.28]but have little contact with other pandas. [34:52.48] [34:52.56]These youngsters may have exceptional social skills, [34:56.20] [34:56.28]but they wouldn't have a clue how to survive in the wild. [34:59.84] [35:02.36]For the majority, their future lies in zoos. [35:06.04] [35:09.56]While the ultimate value [35:11.16] [35:11.24]of captive breeding projects like this is debatable, [35:14.40] [35:14.48]there are places in China [35:16.40] [35:16.48]where animals are being successfully protected in their wild habitat. [35:20.72] [35:32.68]Right at the top of the Qinling Mountains [35:34.68] [35:34.76]lives a rare and mysterious creature [35:37.32] [35:37.40]that has inspired legends as far away as ancient Greece. [35:40.96] [35:42.44]The size of a buffalo and with a temper to match, [35:45.88] [35:45.96]this is the original owner of the golden fleece, the golden takin. [35:51.60] [35:55.20]Golden takin make their way to the top of the mountains [35:57.68] [35:57.76]for the breeding season. [35:59.72] [36:00.72]It's an opportunity for the males to prove their mettle. [36:04.28] [36:09.48]They are formidable and aggressive creatures. [36:12.40] [36:44.92]Now victorious, this male will have access to the females. [36:49.32] [36:53.00]Despite living high on the mountains, [36:55.48] [36:55.56]golden takin were once hunted to near extinction for their meat. [37:00.32] [37:00.40]In a return to the laws of ancient China, [37:03.08] [37:03.16]there's now a government ban on poaching and the takin is officially protected. [37:08.32] [37:14.40]Attitudes towards nature in China [37:16.68] [37:16.76]are clearly complex and rooted in tradition, [37:20.56] [37:20.64]and in the Qinling Mountains there is one story that shows [37:23.48] [37:23.56]just how valuable these traditions can be. [37:26.48] [37:39.16]Every morning a flock of crested ibis leave their roost, [37:43.40] [37:43.48]close to the village of Yangxian, in search of food. [37:46.76] [37:48.40]Traditionally, the birds' departure marked the start of the farmers' day. [37:52.84] [37:55.68]Crested ibises need wetlands for feeding, [37:59.16] [37:59.24]and rice paddies are the perfect place to hunt for eels, frogs and snails. [38:04.40] [38:06.24]The birds and farmers had probably coexisted here for thousands of years, [38:11.32] [38:11.40]until the 20th century when in many parts of China [38:15.08] [38:15.16]rice was replaced by more profitable wheat production. [38:19.28] [38:19.36]Crested ibis numbers rapidly declined. [38:22.32] [38:22.40]At one point, they were even believed to be extinct. [38:25.68] [38:30.12]Then, in 1981, [38:32.52] [38:32.60]the last seven crested ibises on earth were found here. [38:37.16] [38:40.08]The Chinese government stepped in, [38:42.44] [38:42.52]protecting the rice paddies so the birds could continue to feed [38:46.12] [38:46.20]and safeguarding neighbouring trees to enable them to breed. [38:50.12] [39:04.36]Rescued from the brink of extinction, [39:06.56] [39:06.64]there are now 500 crested ibis living around Yangxian town. [39:11.44] [39:11.52]In modern China, room is being made for nature once again. [39:15.28] [39:24.72]But the appreciation of nature in China [39:26.96] [39:27.04]isn't confined to impressive animals or colourful birds. [39:30.96] [39:31.04]Mountain landscapes have held a fascination [39:33.76] [39:33.84]for Chinese artists and poets throughout history. [39:37.44] [39:39.80]Mountains also had religious significance [39:41.88] [39:41.96]as places that linked earth with the heavens. [39:45.64] [39:45.72]One of the most sacred of all is here at Mount Emei, [39:49.96] [39:50.04]the site of a 2,000-year-old Buddhist temple. [39:52.96] [39:53.88]China today has the world's largest Buddhist population. [39:57.44] [40:15.20]These old sacred sites are highly cherished. [40:18.64] [40:18.72]Nearly two million people visit Mount Emei each year. [40:22.16] [40:35.20]But the Buddhist temples are not the only attraction. [40:38.96] [40:39.04]Mount Emei is home to Tibetan macaques, the biggest of their kind. [40:44.04] [40:44.12]Their thick coats enable them to thrive in harsh mountain conditions [40:47.76] [40:47.84]at altitudes up to 3,000 metres. [40:50.64] [41:02.56]Ancient Chinese people believed [41:04.28] [41:04.36]that good deeds towards the human-looking macaques [41:07.48] [41:07.56]were an investment for eternity. [41:09.92] [41:12.08]But for these city-dwelling tourists, [41:14.32] [41:14.40]whose everyday lives are far removed from wildlife, [41:17.80] [41:17.88]this encounter is an uneasy mix of reverence and fear. [41:21.60] [41:21.68](PEOPLE CHATTERING) [41:23.80] [41:25.12]For the macaques, too, it's an awkward relationship. [41:28.52] [41:35.28]The monkeys normally forage for fruit, [41:38.16] [41:38.24]but the tourists are a much easier source of food. [41:42.44] [41:42.52]Constant contact with people is changing the behaviour of the troop. [41:46.68] [41:46.76]Once wary of humans, the macaques are growing bolder. [41:50.76] [42:09.88]How are tourists supposed to know [42:12.40] [42:12.48]that this eyebrow raising display means trouble? [42:15.92] [42:20.32](MONKEY GROWLING) [42:22.00] [42:22.96]Some of the more assertive monkeys have to be policed accordingly. [42:27.12] [42:33.20](SCREECHING) [42:34.80] [42:40.72]While the impact on wildlife from mass tourism is not entirely beneficial, [42:45.80] [42:45.88]the fact that increasing numbers of people [42:47.64] [42:47.72]are enjoying nature at first hand [42:50.12] [42:50.20]suggests some hope for the future. [42:52.88] [43:02.16]Despite all the changes in China during the last 50 years, [43:06.20] [43:06.28]many sacred places like Emei have been protected. [43:09.64] [43:21.64]Heading west, China's heartland becomes increasingly rugged. [43:25.88] [43:27.04]Beyond the Qinling Mountains lies the even higher Min Shan, [43:31.72] [43:31.80]where towering peaks conceal one of China's most remarkable landscapes, [43:36.80] [43:36.88]known to the Chinese as fairyland paradise. [43:40.56] [43:44.12]Jiuzhaigou was virtually unknown until the 1970s. [43:48.40] [43:48.48]Today it's one of China's most famous tourist areas, [43:52.24] [43:52.32]and is recognised internationally as a World Heritage Site. [43:56.04] [44:39.64]The limestone mountains are the source of crystal-clear springs [44:44.08] [44:44.16]which have formed over 100 lakes filled with lime-rich water [44:48.28] [44:48.36]of unbelievable colour. [44:50.24] [45:05.56]Underwater is a perfectly preserved ghostly forest, shrouded in algae. [45:11.28] [45:32.80]This strange world is home to a species of fish [45:36.36] [45:36.44]unique to these lakes. [45:38.28] [45:47.04]Who would have guessed that with close to a billion inhabitants [45:50.56] [45:50.64]China's heartland could still harbour a landscape of such pristine beauty? [45:56.16] [46:01.20]It's spring in the Qinling Mountains. [46:03.84] [46:05.68]As the farmers tend their new crops, [46:08.12] [46:08.20]the secret life of China's most famous animal [46:11.12] [46:11.20]is finally coming to light. [46:13.32] [46:15.92]In one of the panda's last strongholds, a drama is about to unfold, [46:20.44] [46:22.24]one which has rarely been witnessed. [46:24.76] [46:24.84](WHINING) [46:26.24] [46:31.16]A young female has ventured into the valley, [46:34.60] [46:34.68]sparking a flurry of interest among the resident males. [46:38.16] [46:39.80](GROWLING) [46:41.36] [46:49.88]A panda's life is mostly solitary, until the spring breeding season. [46:55.36] [46:56.44]When the brief opportunity to mate arises, [46:59.24] [46:59.32]the males must be ready to take their chance. [47:02.76] [47:02.84]But timing is everything. [47:05.00] [47:09.56](ROARING) [47:11.12] [47:12.56]This male's approach is somewhat lacking in subtlety, [47:16.00] [47:16.08]and anyway, the female isn't ready for him yet. [47:19.36] [47:19.44]Her peak receptive time lasts just two days. [47:22.52] [47:24.04]So he guards her, biding his time with a good supply of bamboo. [47:28.60] [47:32.04]Unfortunately his hostage must eat, too, [47:35.96] [47:36.04]but she doesn't exactly feel like descending. [47:38.96] [47:44.96]Another male has been attracted to the scene. [47:47.72] [47:47.80]He's a veteran of many breeding seasons. [47:50.56] [47:53.60]He's wary of his rival, [47:55.56] [47:55.64]because at this time of year males are transformed [47:58.56] [47:58.64]from peace-loving bamboo eaters into potential killers. [48:02.64] [48:04.68](GROWLING) [48:06.16] [48:07.84]Despite the danger, he makes a challenge. [48:10.88] [48:12.68]The defending male rises to meet him. [48:15.52] [48:15.60](GROWLING) [48:17.16] [48:22.52]The challenger is chased by the defending male. [48:25.60] [48:28.00]In the thick bamboo, the battle rages as the males fight for dominance. [48:32.36] [48:41.24]The female wisely stays clear of trouble. [48:44.04] [48:47.00]The challenger backs down. [48:49.88] [48:49.96]The size and strength of the defending male is just too much. [48:53.72] [48:56.80]The loser retreats and the exhausted but triumphant victor [49:00.24] [49:00.32]returns to the female. [49:02.16] [49:18.20](GROWLING) [49:19.76] [49:29.12]This time she's ready for him. [49:31.36] [49:33.48]Instead of running, she waits. [49:35.72] [49:57.96]This is the first time this extraordinary courtship behaviour [50:01.56] [50:01.64]has ever been filmed in the wild. [50:04.36] [50:07.64]If mating is successful, [50:10.00] [50:10.08]the female will produce a single cub and rear it on her own. [50:14.16] [50:17.28]Today, with improving attitudes towards wildlife conservation, [50:21.44] [50:21.52]there is hope that China's 1,600 remaining wild pandas [50:26.16] [50:26.24]have some chance of survival. [50:28.48] [50:33.00]In 2003, conservation became an integral part of the curriculum [50:38.12] [50:38.20]for China's 200 million school students. [50:41.04] [50:50.40]For the children of the Qinling Mountains, [50:52.92] [50:53.00]knowing what a special neighbour they have [50:55.48] [50:55.56]may help to protect it for the future. [50:58.16] [51:14.52]In the midst of headlong change, [51:16.68] [51:16.76]conducted at a pace unprecedented in human history, [51:20.36] [51:20.44]can China hold on to its ancient desire for harmony with nature? [51:24.48] [51:36.24]Can it reconcile the aspirations of its people [51:39.32] [51:39.40]with the long-term need to protect its environment? [51:42.72] [52:04.52]Here at the Temple of Heaven, in the very heart of Beijing, [52:08.84] [52:08.92]there are signs of a new attitude towards nature. [52:12.08] [52:24.20]Every year, as thousands of birds migrate southwards to escape the winter, [52:29.32] [52:29.40]one secretive species seeks shelter in the temple grounds. [52:33.48] [52:36.56]Safeguarded by the temple's tradition, [52:38.92] [52:39.00]as many as 10 owls can be seen in the same tree. [52:42.72] [52:42.80](CHINESE FIDDLE PLAYING) [52:45.36] [52:56.88]The owls' arrival is celebrated [52:58.36] [52:58.44]by members of the recently formed Beijing Bird Club. [53:01.88] [53:01.96](OWL SCREECHING) [53:03.96] [53:20.00]Migration can be a dangerous undertaking, [53:23.12] [53:23.20]and every year many owls suffer the hazards of power lines, [53:26.76] [53:26.84]traffic and industry. [53:28.60] [53:30.76]Some of the more fortunate end up here, at Beijing's Raptor Rescue Centre. [53:35.28] [53:36.28]Established in 2001, it's the first of its kind. [53:40.48] [53:44.80]Here owls are given medical attention by Sun Quanhui and his team. [53:49.48] [53:57.96]The birds are even exercised to help their rehabilitation. [54:01.60] [54:11.12]Once deemed fit and healthy, [54:13.20] [54:13.28]the owls are taken to the hills at the edge of Beijing. [54:16.76] [54:40.00]Every spring, staff from Beijing's Raptor Rescue Centre [54:44.16] [54:44.24]release dozens of owls. [54:46.16] [54:47.92]Today there are over 1,500 designated nature reserves in China [54:53.16] [54:53.24]covering large tracts of some of the country's finest landscapes. [54:57.24] [55:02.12](BELL CLANGING) [55:03.68] [55:08.04]As China looks to the future with a renewed sense of direction, [55:12.32] [55:12.40]ancient traditions are still very much a part of its culture. [55:16.20] [55:19.16]It's Chinese New Year. [55:21.72] [55:21.80]All over the country, the people prepare to appease their oldest [55:25.48] [55:25.56]and most venerated creature, the dragon. [55:28.76] [55:29.84](TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING) [55:32.00] [55:39.88]As night falls, everyone from the neighbourhood brings a lantern. [55:44.36] [55:48.48]And one by one, the lights are added to the dragon's tail. [55:52.32] [55:53.32](FIRECRACKERS EXPLODING) [55:55.36] [55:57.32]As the procession grows longer, the atmosphere builds [56:01.08] [56:01.16]with the spectacle of one of China's oldest and greatest inventions. [56:05.32] [56:21.36]The dragon dance is performed all over China. [56:25.00] [56:25.08]The ceremony itself is thousands of years old, [56:28.28] [56:28.36]but it's still the highlight of the Chinese New Year. [56:31.76] [56:34.24]As the dragon winds its way through the village, [56:37.40] [56:37.48]it has grown hundreds of metres long. [56:40.48] [56:40.56]Everyone is part of it. [56:42.44] [57:08.00]After a century of unprecedented change in China, [57:11.80] [57:11.88]during which environmental protection has not been a priority, [57:15.44] [57:15.52]there are now signs of a new direction. [57:18.20] [57:24.20]In October 2006, [57:26.68] [57:26.76]the Communist Party specifically identified [57:29.92] [57:30.00]promoting harmony between man and nature [57:33.36] [57:33.44]as an important step in their goal of building a harmonious society, [57:39.00] [57:39.08]and called on the Chinese people [57:41.20] [57:41.28]to accelerate the construction of an environmentally friendly society. [57:46.36] [57:56.44]As China's economy continues to grow, [57:59.24] [57:59.32]its re-engagement with the ancient ideal of harmony with nature [58:03.04] [58:03.12]provides a glimmer of hope for the future of wild China. [58:07.12]

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