♪
Narrator: CHINA, IT’S A COUNTRY STEEPED IN TRADITION
AND HURTLING FORWARD.
IN THIS AERIAL JOURNEY,
WE’LL SEE THE SPRAWLING NATION FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE MONKS MOVE MOUNTAINS
AND PEASANTS ENGINEERED MASTERPIECES.
HERE THE LANDSCAPES ARE AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE,
AND CREATIVITY THRIVES.
AFTER CENTURIES IN SECLUSION,
THIS IS CHINA FROM ABOVE.
CHINA,
A NATION NEARLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE US,
BUT WITH FOUR TIMES THE PEOPLE.
92 PERCENT ARE HAN CHINESE,
BUT THIS IS A VAST AND VARIED NATION.
HOME TO 55 ETHNIC GROUPS SPEAKING 120 LIVING LANGUAGES.
THEY’VE BUILT LIVES IN THE UNLIKELIEST OF PLACES,
FROM STEEP RIVER VALLEYS, TO HARSH DESERT LANDSCAPES.
NATURE HAS BEEN AN ENEMY AND ALLY
AS THE PEOPLE HERE CARVED OUT
UNIQUE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS.
IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA IS THE CITY OF JINGHONG,
WHERE A TEMPLE CALLED "THE GOLDEN TOWER" STANDS.
THE MEKONG RIVER FLOWS HERE,
WHICH THE CHINESE CALL LANCANG.
TODAY, THE RIVER IS THE SITE OF AN IMPORTANT EVENT
FOR THE DAI PEOPLE,
A THREE DAY WATER FESTIVAL TO MARK THEIR NEW YEAR.
THERE ARE 1.2 MILLION DAI PEOPLE IN CHINA,
MOST OF WHOM LIVE IN THIS REGION.
RELATIVES OF THE THAI LAO DAI HAVE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
AND CALENDAR FROM THE REST OF CHINA.
THEIR NEW YEAR KICKS OFF IN APRIL,
THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR.
FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS, DRAGON BOAT RACES DOMINATE.
12 VILLAGES HAVE TEAMS HERE, EACH ONE HOPING TO WIN.
Yan Hong Han: I AM YAN HONG HAN FROM MAN CHING VILLAGE.
WE ARE PREPARING TO HEAD TO THE RIVER
TO TAKE PART IN THE YEARLY DRAGON BOAT COMPETITION.
THIS YEAR THE BOAT FROM OUR VILLAGE
IS THE LARGEST AMONGST ALL THE PARTICIPANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MOST HANDS ON DECK.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL WIN THE RACE THIS YEAR.
♪
Narrator: THE FESTIVAL KICKSTARTS
IN A DISTINCTLY CHINESE WAY,
WITH A BANG.
[FIREWORKS CRACKLING]
♪
IN THESE RACES SPEED DEPENDS ON SYNCHRONIZATION.
BOATS CAN VARY IN SIZE,
AND EACH ONE HAS A DRUMMER
WHO SETS A TEMPO FOR THE OARSMAN.
Yan Hong Han: EVERYONE HAS TO FOLLOW THE RHYTHM
AND TEMPO OF THE DRUMMER.
HE WILL GUIDE EVERYONE TO ROW IN UNISON,
OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE CHAOS AND CONFUSION.
[DRUMS BEATING]
Narrator: THIS YEAR, YAN’S BOAT ULTIMATELY LOSES,
BUT HE’S ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD.
Yan Hong Han: I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE PART AGAIN NEXT YEAR,
BECAUSE THE DRAGON BOAT RACE IS SOMETHING
EVERY DAI MAN SHOULD TAKE PART IN.
Narrator: AS THE SUN SETS OVER THE LANCANG,
PEOPLE WADE INTO THE RIVER.
THEY LIGHT LANTERNS,
A CHINESE TRADITION BELIEVED TO WARD OFF GHOSTS,
AND BRING GOOD LUCK.
♪
THE THIRD AND FINAL DAY OF THE FESTIVAL BEGINS IN PRAYER.
THE DAI PRACTICE BUDDHISM,
ONE OF THE FIVE MAJOR RELIGIONS IN CHINA.
Man: WE ARE HEADING TO THE TEMPLE
FOR AN IMPORTANT EVENT KNOWN AS BUDDHA WASHING.
WE WILL WASH THE BUDDHA STATUES
AND THEN PRESENT OFFERINGS AND PRAYERS.
Narrator: FOR THEM, WATER IS A SYMBOL
OF BOTH GOODWILL AND PURIFICATION.
WITH THE BUDDHA BATHING COMPLETE,
THE CELEBRATION MOVES TO ITS GRAND FINALE.
[CROWD CHEERING] ♪
BY THE RIVER BANK,
THOUSANDS TAKE PART IN WHAT MAY BE
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST WATER FIGHT.
IT BEGAN CENTURIES AGO AS A FAR MORE GENTLE RITUAL.
PEOPLE WITH POUR A TRICKLE OF WATER
ON ONE ANOTHER FOR GOOD LUCK.
OVER THE YEARS, IT GREW INTO THIS,
A DRENCH FEST, WHERE TOURISTS ARE A FAVORITE TARGET.
WITH 100,000 PARTICIPANTS,
NEARLY EVERYONE WALKS AWAY WITH AMPLE GOOD LUCK.
TRADITION ALSO THRIVES
1100 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE WATER FESTIVAL,
AT A RENOWNED RELIGIOUS SITE.
[BIRD CHIRPING]
THIS IS SHAOLIN MONASTERY,
A BUDDHIST TEMPLE DATING BACK TO THE 6TH CENTURY.
IT’S THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHEN BUDDHISM
KNOWN MORE COMMONLY BY ITS JAPANESE NAME,
ZEN BUDDHISM.
BUT THIS TEMPLE MAY BE BEST KNOWN FOR ITS WARRIOR MONKS.
THEY PRACTICE AN ANCIENT FORM OF KUNG FU
THAT’S INSPIRED DOZENS OF MOVIES AND TV SHOWS,
INCLUDING THE LANDMARK 1970 SERIES "KUNG FU".
IT FEATURED A SHAOLIN MONK WHO BRAVED THE WILD WEST
WITH JUST SPIRITUAL AND MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING.
TODAY THE MONASTERY DRAWS KUNG FU STUDENTS
FROM ACROSS CHINA.
Yan Fei: I’M 18 YEARS OLD, I COME FROM ANHUI.
I HAVE BEEN IN SHAOLIN TEMPLE SINCE I WAS 13.
SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BECOME A SHAOLIN WARRIOR MONK.
Narrator: THE MONKS BEGIN TESTING FUTURE CANDIDATES
WHEN THEY’RE JUST CHILDREN.
AND TRAINING CAN BEGIN AS EARLY AS EIGHT.
DISCIPLES SPEND YEARS WORKING
TO MASTER A MIND BODY CONNECTION.
Yan Hong: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHAOLIN KUNG FU
AND OTHER SCHOOLS OF MARTIAL ARTS,
IS THAT IT ENCOMPASSES ZEN.
ZEN IS CULTIVATION OF THE MIND,
AND INNER MEDITATION OF THE HEART.
Narrator: THE ORIGINS OF SHAOLIN KUNG FU
ARE LOST IN LEGEND,
BUT IT’S BELIEVED THE FIRST TWO CHINESE DISCIPLES
BROUGHT MARTIAL ARTS HERE CENTURIES AGO.
THOSE SKILLS WERE BLENDED WITH BUDDHISM
TO CREATE THIS DEMANDING PRACTICE.
Yan Fei: THE TRAINING IS VERY TOUGH,
SO TOUGH TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ALMOST WANT TO GIVE UP,
BUT I HAVE TO PERSEVERE.
I MUST TRAIN HARDER AND DO BETTER THAN MY PEERS.
Yan Cen: AMONG THE MANY JUNIORS HERE,
YAN FEI IS CONSIDERED QUITE GOOD,
BECAUSE HE IS ABLE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP.
♪
Narrator: TODAY, YAN FEI HAS A CRUCIAL ASSESSMENT.
HE’S SPARRING WITH HIS WEAPONS MASTER,
AND MUST PROVE HIS SKILLS WITH A COMPLEX TRIPLE STICK.
YAN FEI FAILED THIS TEST ONCE BEFORE.
[FIGHTERS GROANING]
Yan Fei: AT FIRST, IT WAS REALLY TOUGH
PRACTICING WITH THE TRIPLE STICK.
I COULDN’T CONTROL IT.
IT WAS MAKING A FOOL OF ME.
BUT, AFTER YEARS OF PRACTICE,
I HAVE LEARNED HOW TO MANAGE IT.
Narrator: THIS TIME, YAN PROVES HIMSELF.
Yan Cen: THERE IS A SAYING IN CHINA.
SHIFU BRINGS YOU THROUGH THE DOOR,
BUT THE PRACTICE LIES WITHIN THE MAN HIMSELF.
I CAN ONLY GUIDE HIM, SHOW HIM THE WAY.
Narrator: THE LOCATION OF THE SHAOLIN MONASTERY
IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT.
IT SITS AT THE BASE OF MOUNT SONGSHAN,
THE CENTRAL SACRED MOUNTAIN IN CHINA.
THESE MONKS PRACTICE NEAR THE PEAK,
LONG BELIEVED TO BE THE POINT
WHERE HEAVEN AND EARTH MEET.
♪
CHINA IS FULL OF SACRED SPOTS.
ONE OF THE MOST REVERED IS HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST
♪
THIS MASSIVE STATUE CALLED THE LESHAN BUDDHA
SITS ON MOUNT EMEI,
WHERE BUDDHISM WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED
IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
IT ORIGINALLY SPREAD FROM INDIA TO CHINA,
AND TODAY IS ONE OF THIS NATION’S LARGEST RELIGIONS.
THE LESHAN WAS CARVED HERE IN THE 8TH CENTURY
FOR A SPECIFIC REASON.
Mao Mingxiang: THE GIANT BUDDHA STATUE IS LOCATED
WHERE THE THREE RIVERS MERGE.
THE CURRENT CREATES A BIG WHIRLPOOL.
IN THE PAST, BOATS THAT PASSED THROUGH OFTEN SANK,
CAUSING A LOT OF HUMAN DEATHS,
SO MONK HAI TONG DECIDES TO BUILD A GIANT STATUE THERE,
OPPOSITE THE LINGYIN TEMPLE.
♪
Narrator: THE MONK SPENT TWO DECADES
RAISING MONEY FOR THE STATUE,
BUT DIED BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETE.
TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES CARRIED ON THE PROJECT,
DUMPING TONS OF STONE INTO THE WATER BELOW.
ALL THAT SEDIMENT ALTERED THE COURSE OF THE RIVER,
MAKING IT SAFER.
AFTER 90 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION,
THE BUDDHA WAS FINISHED IN 803 AD,
DURING THE TANG DYNASTY.
♪
Mao Mingxiang: EVER ERA CARRIES THEIR OWN
DEPICTION OF THE BUDDHA.
DURING THE TANG DYNASTY, THE SOCIETY WAS WELL ADVANCED.
THE ECONOMY WAS FLOURISHING AND LIFE WAS PROSPEROUS.
OFTEN IN TANG PAINTINGS,
THE SUBJECTS APPEAR PLUMP AND DIGNIFIED.
THIS IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF TANG DYNASTY.
NATURALLY, THE GRAND BUDDHA STATUE
CONVEYS THESE FEATURES.
Narrator: THIS GRAND BUDDHA REMAINS
AN INSPIRATION 1200 YEARS LATER.
400 MILES AWAY IN HUNAN PROVINCE
IS ANOTHER EPIC HOLY SITE,
BUT THIS ONE WAS CARVED BY NATURE.
♪
THIS IS TIANMEN SHAN,
THE HEAVEN’S GATE CAVE,
LONG BELIEVED TO BE A GATEWAY TO PARADISE.
BUT THE ROAD TO HEAVEN ISN’T EASY.
TO REACH IT, VISITORS MUST BRAVE
ONE OF THE WORLD’S CURVIEST HIGHWAYS.
IT MAKES 99 SHARP TURNS IN JUST SIX MILES.
ALONG THE WAY ARE THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF ZHANGJIAJIE.
♪
ITS FAMOUS PILLARS REACH NEARLY 5,000 FEET,
THREE TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
IN 1982, THE AREA BECAME
CHINA’S FIRST NATIONAL FOREST PARK
TO PROTECT THE MANY ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT LIVE HERE.
TODAY, 30 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE PARK,
MANY RISKING A RIDE ON THE WORLD’S HIGHEST
OUTDOOR ELEVATOR.
"THE HUNDRED DRAGONS LIFT" RISES A DIZZYING 1,000 FEET.
BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED
IN WHAT’S AT GROUND LEVEL.
Tian Mingzhong: HERE, AS WE CAN SEE,
IS A LAYER OF QUARTZ ROCK.
THE LAYER AT THE BOTTOM IS THE SOFT LAYER.
THE LANDSCAPE OF ZHANG JIA JIE
IS FORMED BY STACKING THESE TWO TYPES OF ROCKS.
Narrator: NEXT, THE GEOLOGY PROFESSOR AND HIS STUDENTS
HEAD TO THE HEAVENS VIA THE WORLD’S LONGEST CABLEWAY.
IT’S A FOUR MILE RIDE
FOLLOWED BY A 30 MINUTE CLIMB.
Tian Mingzhong: THIS IS THE HEAVEN’S GATE CAVE.
Narrator: FOR THE PROFESSOR,
THIS SIGHT IS BOTH ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY.
Tian Mingzhong: THE BOTTOM LAYERS
ARE MADE UP OF HARDER ROCKS.
THE MIDDLE LAYERS CONSISTS OF SOFTER ROCKS,
WHICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION.
AND THE TOP MOST LAYER IS MADE UP OF THE HARDER ROCKS.
THE HEAVENLY DOOR CAVE TOOK SHAPE,
BY THE SOFTER ROCK’S GRADUALLY CORRODING OVER TIME
FORMING A HOLE.
THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR FORMATIONS IN THE WORLD.
HOWEVER, THIS IS A RARITY, GIVEN ITS HEIGHT.
YOU SPEND A LOT OF ENERGY TO GET UP HERE
TO SEE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
IT’S DEFINITELY REWARDING.
Narrator: OUT OF ALL OF CHINA’S WONDERS, ONE STANDS OUT,
THE GREAT WALL
IT’S THE LONGEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE ON EARTH,
STRETCHING MORE THAN 6,000 MILES ACROSS NORTHEAST CHINA.
THIS WALL IS ACTUALLY A SERIES OF WALLS
BUILT OVER 2,000 YEARS BY SUCCESSIVE DYNASTIES.
IN 221 BC, THE FIRST EMPEROR OF THE UNITED CHINA
WANTED TO WARD OFF FOREIGN INVADERS.
HE ORDERED THAT SCATTERED FORTIFICATIONS BE CONNECTED,
A FEAT THAT REQUIRED A MILLION MEN AND COST COUNTLESS LIVES.
Zhao Hui: THE GREAT WALL HAS NOT MUCH PRACTICAL USE
IN THE MODERN AGE.
BUT, IN THE ANCIENT TIMES,
IT SERVED AS A DEFENSE FORTRESS DURING WARTIME.
HENCE, ONE CAN SENSE THE GRANDEUR OF THE GREAT WALL.
Narrator: TODAY, 10 MILLION PEOPLE
VISIT THE GREAT WALL EACH YEAR.
[PEOPLE CHATTERING] ♪
THEY WALK ACROSS STONES FORMED
WITH WHATEVER MATERIAL WAS AVAILABLE IN ANCIENT TIMES,
FROM DIRT TO TWIGS TO RICE.
THE WALL IS SO MASSIVE THAT SOME SECTIONS OF IT
ARE STILL BEING UNEARTHED.
OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN RESTORED FOR TOURISTS,
MANY OF WHOM ARE CHINESE.
Zhao Hui: THE ENTIRE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT THIS LANDMARK
AND MAKES US AS CHINESE FEEL REALLY PROUD.
SO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, IT IS A REAL HONOR.
♪
Narrator: NORTHERN CHINA IS ALSO HOME
TO A STRUCTURE THAT SEEMS TO DEFY GRAVITY.
THIS IS THE HANGING TEMPLE OF HENG SHEN,
BUILT 1500 YEARS AGO.
IT’S WEATHERED BOTH TIME AND THE ELEMENTS,
JUST AS ITS BUILDERS INTENDED.
Chang Xue Wen: IN THE PAST,
THIS AREA OFTEN EXPERIENCED FLOODS.
PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.
LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE LOCALS DECIDED TO BUILD A TEMPLE
TO SEEK BUDDHA’S PROTECTION.
Narrator: THE STRUCTURE HANGS 250 FEET ABOVE A CANYON,
NESTLED BENEATH AN OVERHANG
THAT’S PROTECTED IT FOR CENTURIES.
TO BUILD THE TEMPLE, WORKERS RAPPELLED DOWN
AND HAND-CHISELED HORIZONTAL
AND VERTICAL FOUNDATIONS INTO THE MOUNTAIN.
THE PILLARS WERE ADDED LATER TO REINFORCE THE STRUCTURE
AND APPEASE NERVOUS TOURISTS WHO FLOCK HERE.
Chang Xue Wen: OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE
IN ENSURING THE HANGING MONASTERY’S LONGEVITY
IS THE HIGH VOLUME OF VISITORS.
TO PROTECT TEMPLE,
WE NEED TO KEEP THESE NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL.
♪
IN 1975, THE ENTIRE WOODEN SECTION ABOVE COLLAPSED.
THE CROSSBEAM WAS MOVED,
AND NEW WOOD PIECES WERE INSERTED INDIVIDUALLY.
Narrator: TODAY ONLY 80 VISITORS ARE
ALLOWED IN AT A TIME
TO PRESERVE THIS REMARKABLE SIGHT.
♪
IN WESTERN CHINA, ANOTHER ENGINEERING WONDER
IS MORE UNDERSTATED.
THIS IS TURPAN, HOME OF THE UYGHUR PEOPLE.
IT’S A DRY AND DESOLATE AREA,
SPOTTED WITH ODD-LOOKING MOUNDS.
THOSE BUMPS ARE ACTUALLY WELLS THAT LEAD
TO AN ANCIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM CALLED THE KAREZ.
BENEATH THE SURFACE, MORE THAN A THOUSAND VERTICAL WELLS
STRETCH DOWN TO CANALS.
USING GRAVITY, THE CANALS CARRY WATER
FROM THE RAIN-SOAKED MOUNTAINS TO THE DESERT.
THE UNDERGROUND CANALS PREVENT
THE WATER FROM EVAPORATING
WHILE THE WELLS GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE WATER.
♪
TODAY, THE SYSTEM NOURISHES AN AREA CALLED GRAPE VALLEY,
ONCE AN OASIS FOR WEARY TRAVELERS ALONG THE SILK ROAD.
♪
BUT MAINTAINING THE ANCIENT SYSTEM IS DIFFICULT
AND RISKY.
♪
Sadik Eysa: I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 10 YEARS.
THE FIRST TIME IT WAS QUITE SCARY,
BUT AFTER A WHILE I GOT USED TO IT.
Narrator: WORKERS REGULARLY DESCEND INTO THE WELLS
TO DREDGE OUT SEDIMENT AND STABILIZE THE WALLS.
Sadik Eysa: IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THIS.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
IF WE DON’T, THE CANALS WILL DRY UP,
AND THE VILLAGE WILL NOT HAVE DRINKING WATER.
♪
Narrator: THE CANALS PROVIDE DRINKING WATER TO THOUSANDS,
AND IRRIGATE 30 PERCENT OF THE CROPS IN THE REGION
SOME OF THESE GRAPE FIELDS DATE BACK TO THE 3RD CENTURY.
THE SCALE OF PRODUCTION HERE IS BEST REVEALED FROM THE AIR.
FARMERS USE THESE MUD BRICK BLOCKS
TO DEHYDRATE MILLIONS OF GRAPES AND MAKE RAISINS.
IT’S ANOTHER INGENIOUS EXAMPLE
OF PEOPLE WORKING WITH MOTHER NATURE.
IN EXTREME SOUTHERN CHINA,
LOCALS HAVE TURNED FARMING INTO AN ART FORM.
THESE ARE THE YUANYANG RICE TERRACES,
CULTIVATED BY THE LOCAL HANI PEOPLE.
1.4 MILLION HANI LIVE IN THIS PART OF CHINA,
WHERE THERE IS A DEEP RESPECT FOR NATURE.
THEIR ANCESTORS CARVED THESE FIELDS 1300 YEARS AGO.
Lu Wenguang: WE ARE ABLE TO ENJOY SUCH BLESSED LIVES TODAY
THANKS TO OUR ANCESTORS’ HARD WORK AND ENDURANCE.
Narrator: THOUSANDS OF TERRACES CASCADE
DOWN PARTS OF THE MOUNTAIN.
THE HANI USE A SERIES OF DITCHES AND CANALS
TO MOVE RAINFALL IN SPRING WATER THROUGH THE TERRACES
TO KEEP THE FIELDS WET.
♪
Lu Wenguang: THE LOCALS HERE HAVE A SAYING.
THE HIGHER THE MOUNTAINS THE HIGHER THE WATER SOURCES.
THE WATER STORED IN FORESTS FORMS NATURAL RESERVOIRS.
Narrator: THIS WET FARMING ALSO DEPENDS
ON THE MOUNTAIN’S NATURAL ECOSYSTEM.
FIRST WATER EVAPORATES FROM RIVER VALLEYS BELOW,
FORMING FOG AND CLOUDS AT THE PEAKS.
NEXT, MOUNTAIN FORESTS TRAP THE CLOUDS.
THEN, RAIN WATER FLOWS BACK DOWN THROUGH THE TERRACES,
FILLING THE FIELDS.
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
Lu Wenguang: WE ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE TERRACES.
BECAUSE OF THE TERRACES,
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER.
THE TERRACES ARE THE FOUNDATION
FROM WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO REPRODUCE AND SURVIVE.
AND, THEY SYMBOLIZE THE STRENGTH
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE TRIBE.
♪
Narrator: THE FIELDS ARE SO CULTURALLY IMPORTANT,
THEY’VE BEEN NAMED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
THEIR BEAUTY HAS INSPIRED GENERATIONS OF ARTISTS,
WHO COME HERE TO CAPTURE THE SUNLIGHT AND THE SERENITY.
♪
1800 MILES NORTH OF THE RICE PADDIES
IS A RUGGED AREA THAT BORDERS MONGOLIA
THIS IS THE HOME TO THE KAZAKH EAGLE HUNTERS.
IT’S AN UNFORGIVING CLIMATE.
WINTER TEMPERATURES CAN DROP TO 20 BELOW,
BUT AROUND 1.2 MILLION KAZAKH LIVE HERE,
THANKS IN PART TO THEIR TRADITION
OF TRAINING GOLDEN EAGLES TO HUNT.
[EAGLE CHIRPING]
Jinsibiek: EAGLE HUNTING IS A TRADITION
OF THE KAZAKH PEOPLE.
IS A CUSTOM PASSED DOWN FROM OUR ANCESTORS.
IT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE RACE OF OUR PEOPLE,
OUR COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND WILL TO MOVE AHEAD.
WE HAVE A DUTY TO PASS IT ON.
♪
THIS IS HOW MY FATHER TAUGHT ME
AND I WILL PASS IT ON TO MY SON.
YOU CAN TELL HOW HEALTHY AN EAGLE IS THROUGH TOUCH AND FEEL.
THIS IS THE FIRST THING AN EAGLE TRAINER NEEDS TO LEARN.
YES THAT’S RIGHT.
NOW, RAISE IT UP.
YES, THAT’S IT, LET THE EAGLE SIT STRAIGHT.
WALK A STEP AHEAD.
Narrator: MEN CHOOSE AN EAGLE RIGHT AFTER IT’S BORN.
TRAINERS RAISE THE CHICKS ALONGSIDE THEIR OWN FAMILIES,
HAND FEEDING THE ANIMALS TO BUILD A BOND.
IT TAKES AROUND FIVE YEARS TO TRAIN AN EAGLE,
A PRACTICE THE KAZAKHS CONSIDER AN ART FORM.
♪
THIS UNIQUE PRACTICE ALSO HELPS PROTECT THE EAGLES.
THE MEN WILL EVENTUALLY RELEASE THE BIRDS INTO THE WILD,
AN ACT OF RESPECT FOR AN ANIMAL
THEY BELIEVE SYMBOLIZES FREEDOM.
♪
FOR NOW, THE MEN WILL RETURN HOME
TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESSFUL HUNT.
[EAGLE CHIRPING]
ANOTHER PRISTINE PART OF CHINA EXISTS IN THE EXTREME SOUTH,
WHERE THREE MIGHTY RIVERS FLOW ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER.
YUNNAN PROVINCE IS HOME
TO THREE PARALLEL RIVERS NATIONAL PARK.
HERE, THE NU, LANCANG, AND YANGTZE
FLOW NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER,
CREATING OTHERWORLDLY FORMATIONS.
♪
AMID THESE PEAKS AND VALLEYS ARE THE LOCAL LISU PEOPLE,
WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS.
[WOMAN BIRD CALLING]
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
Grandmother Pu: TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE WEEKLY MARKET.
IT’S ALSO WHEN I GET TO VISIT MY GRANDSON.
I’M GOING TO SELL MY CHICKEN TODAY,
SO THAT I CAN EARN SOME MONEY
AND TREAT HIM TO A NICE MEAL.
Narrator: BUT IN THIS PART OF CHINA,
A TRIP TO THE MARKET IS NO SIMPLE TASK.
TO GET THERE, VILLAGERS CROSS THIS STRETCH OF RAPIDS BY AIR.
[WATER BURBLING]
RATHER THAN BUILDING A COSTLY BRIDGE,
THE LISU RELY ON ZIP LINES.
THIS GRANDMOTHER HAS BEEN FLYING OVER THE RIVER
HER ENTIRE LIFE.
THE ADVENT OF STEEL CABLES IS RELATIVELY NEW.
WHILE UNCONVENTIONAL,
IT’S THE FASTEST AND MOST AFFORDABLE WAY
TO NAVIGATE THE VALLEY.
♪
Grandmother Pu: I’M SELLING THIS CHICKEN FOR 70, OKAY?
Buyer: 70 YUAN, CAN YOU SELL FOR LESS, 50?
Grandmother Pu: 50, ALRIGHT.
Narrator: AT THE MARKET, MRS. PU MAKES A QUICK SALE,
AND RETRIEVES HER GRANDSON FOR A SPECIAL OUTING.
IN THIS REMOTE AREA, SHE RELISHES SIMPLE PLEASURES,
BEFORE JOURNEYING HOME ONCE AGAIN
OVER THE WINDSWEPT VALLEY.
YUNNAN PROVINCE IS ALSO THE SITE OF A HIDDEN SPOT
NAMED "SWALLOW’S CAVE",
HOME TO BIRDS CALLED "EDIBLE NEST SWIFTLETS".
VISITORS COME TO SEE THE BIRDS
WHICH CREATE NESTS OUT OF THEIR REGURGITATED SALIVA.
♪
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EAT THESE NESTS,
WHICH ARE CONSIDERED A CHINESE DELICACY.
FOR CENTURIES,
THE NESTS HAVE BEEN USED TO MAKE "BIRDS NEST SOUP",
BELIEVED TO HAVE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
A POUND OF BIRDS NEST CAN SELL UP TO $1,000 US.
IN OTHER PARTS OF ASIA, THE NESTS ARE COMMERCIALLY FARMED,
BUT HERE AT SWALLOWS CAVE,
HARVESTERS USE TRADITIONAL METHODS TO GATHER THEM.
Xu Jian Ming: I HAVE NO CHOICE
THIS RURAL AREA WHERE I LIVE IS POOR.
SO THAT’S WHY I HAVE TO TAKE THIS PATH.
Narrator: 39 YEAR OLD XU JIAN MING IS A LONGTIME GATHERER
WHO’S BEEN CLIMBING FOR TWO DECADES.
NOW, HE’S PASSING ON HIS SKILLS.
Xu Jian Ming: TO DO THIS, YOU NEED A GOOD MEMORY.
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE EXACT PATH
YOU TAKE TO GET UP AND DOWN,
OR YOU MIGHT BE STUCK UP THERE.
Narrator: LIKE ROCK CLIMBERS,
HARVESTERS USE CREVICES FOR FOOT AND HANDHOLDS
TO WORK THEIR WAY UP,
BUT THEY DON’T USE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
DESPITE SOMETIMES SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
Xu Jian Ming: I USUALLY DON’T THINK OF ANYTHING AS I CLIMB.
I HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED,
BECAUSE THIS EXERCISE REQUIRES CONCENTRATION
OR ELSE IT COULD GET DANGEROUS WHEN YOU’RE UP THERE.
Narrator: BIRDS NEST IS BOTH PRIZED AND PRICEY,
BUT FOR THE CLIMBERS, PROFITS ARE UNRELIABLE.
Xu Jian Ming: BACK IN 1999
THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS WERE DIFFERENT.
WE COULD SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES
BY MAKING $1,000 US A YEAR.
TODAY, THAT AMOUNT IS NOT ENOUGH.
Narrator: XU EARNS MORE
BY SHOWING OFF HIS CLIMBING SKILLS FOR TOURISTS
HE’S A VETERAN NOW, BUT XU SAYS ON A GOOD DAY,
HE STILL FEELS LIKE A KID AGAIN
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
Xu Jian Ming: I HAVE BEEN CLIMBING FOR OVER 20 YEARS,
BUT IT CAN STILL FEEL FRESH.
WHEN YOU FIND A PLACE BRIMMING WITH BIRD’S NESTS,
THERE IS A SORT OF EXCITEMENT.
♪
Narrator: IN THE FAR REACHES OF NORTHWESTERN CHINA
IS ZHAOSU COUNTY,
ONCE HOME TO WILD HORSES.
THIS PART OF CHINA IS REMOTE AND EXPANSIVE.
PLAINS HERE STRETCH FOR 4,000 SQUARE MILES.
THIS IS ALSO HOME TO THE KAZAKH PEOPLE,
WHO HAVE BEEN TAMING WILD HORSES FOR 5500 YEARS.
[HOOVES POUNDING] ♪
Tuoliewu: WE KAZAKHS LEAD A RURAL NOMADIC LIFE.
THIS LIFESTYLE REQUIRES US TO HAVE GOOD HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS
FROM AN EARLY AGE.
♪
Narrator: THE KAZAKH WERE ONCE KNOWN
FOR BREEDING SOME OF ASIA’S BEST WAR HORSES.
TODAY THEIR FOCUS IS RACE HORSES,
COMPETING IN THE ANNUAL HEAVENLY HORSE FESTIVAL.
THIS YEAR, THE HORSE BREEDERS’ SON
WILL BE RACING FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Ainiwaer: FROM AN EARLY AGE,
IT HAS BEEN MY DREAM TO BE IN THIS RACE.
Narrator: THE RACE IS A TEST OF BOTH SKILL AND ENDURANCE.
IT LAST THREE FULL DAYS.
Tuoliewu: MY ONLY WISH
IS THAT MY SON COMES BACK SAFELY.
WINNING IS NOT EVERYTHING.
♪
Narrator: ON THE FIRST DAY ALONE
THE RIDERS COVERED 50 MILES.
NOW ON DAY THREE, THEY MUST RIDE ANOTHER 62.
FOR FATHER AND SON, THIS IS MORE THAN A RACE.
IT’S A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE A HORSE THEY GROOMED FOR YEARS.
ULTIMATELY AINIWAER DOESN’T WIN,
BUT HE’S ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR.
♪
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE FRIGID NORTHEAST
IS A CITY STEEPED IN ICE.
THIS IS HARBIN, HOME TO MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE
WHO ENDURE TEMPERATURES OF 38 BELOW.
THE SUB ZERO CONDITIONS FREEZE THE SONGHUA RIVER,
WHERE TODAY WORKERS HAUL OUT 555 POUND BLOCKS OF ICE.
THE BLOCKS ARE BEING USED TO CREATE A WINTER WONDERLAND
CALLED THE HARBIN ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL.
THE FESTIVAL BEGAN IN 1985, BUT IS BASED ON A TRADITION
IN WHICH FISHERMAN CARVED LANTERNS FROM ICE.
NOW, ARTISTS TAKE ON CARVINGS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
Liu Heng Fu: WE SHOULD EMBRACE THIS UNIQUE CLIMATE
THAT GOD HAS BLESSED UPON US,
AND OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE WORLD, DESPITE THE COLD WEATHER.
Narrator: THIS EVENT IS NOW
THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD,
BUT EVERY YEAR BRINGS NEW PROBLEMS.
Wang Zeng Yu: THE WEATHER IS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
WE ARE ON TIGHT DEADLINES.
ALL THE ICE IS SOURCED FROM THE SONGHUA RIVER.
IF THE ICE IS NOT THICK ENOUGH,
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HARVEST IT,
AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DELAYED
LUCKILY, THE WEATHER CONDITION THIS YEAR ARE GOOD.
[DRUMS BEATING]
Narrator: THE WEATHER HERE IS SO COLD,
THE SCULPTURES CAN LAST FOR A MONTH.
ARTISTS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO PARTICIPATE.
Wang Zeng Yu: EVERY SCULPTURE IS JUST LIKE MY OWN CHILD.
I WATCH THEM GROW UP EVERY DAY.
IT’S NOT JUST A JOB.
WE ARE EMOTIONALLY DEVOTED TO TRANSFORM THIS PARK
INTO A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF ART,
AND PRESENT THIS TO INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.
Narrator: OPENING DAY FINALLY ARRIVES.
THIS NEW ICE CITY COVERS AN AREA
THE SIZE OF 150 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
♪
AT DUSK IT’S REMARKABLE
BUT AT NIGHT IT’S BREATHTAKING,
MODERN DAY CHINA HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE TRADITIONS
AND INNOVATIONS OF THE PAST.
THIS IS A NATION OF INVENTION
AND REINVENTION.
IT’S A LAND RICH WITH NATURAL TREASURES,
ALONG WITH NATURAL RESOURCES.
CHINA IS A PLACE OF DIVERSITY
WHERE ANCIENT CUSTOMS SURVIVE,
AND EVEN THRIVE.
THIS COUNTRY, FULL OF SURPRISES
CONTINUES TO EMERGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.