All language subtitles for China.From.Above.3of4.Dynamic.Coast.1080p.HDTV.x264.AAC.MVGroup.org.eng

\h\h\hNarrator: CHINA,
IT’S A COUNTRY STEEPED

IN TRADITION AND HURTLING
\hFORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

\h\hIN THIS AERIAL
JOURNEY, WE’LL SEE

\hTHE SPRAWLING NATION
FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

\h\hTHIS IS A PLACE WHERE
PIONEERS BRAVE THE UNKNOWN

AND MONUMENTS TO THE
SPIRIT STILL STAND.

\hHERE THE LANDSCAPES ARE
AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE.

WHERE CITIES FEATURE
MAGNIFICENT SKYLINES

AND INDUSTRIES HAVE TRANSFORMED

THE COUNTRY INTO A
\h\hGLOBAL LEADER.

AFTER CENTURIES IN SECLUSION,
\h\h\h\h\hCREATIVITY THRIVES.

\hIN A GENERATION, CHINA HAS
SPRUNG FROM ITS ANCIENT PAST,

\hINSPIRED BY BOLD IDEAS
AND RISEN TO NEW HEIGHTS.

IT’S BLENDED INNOVATION
\h\h\h\hWITH TRADITION,

\h\h\h\h\hTAKING AIM AT THE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

THAT LIE AHEAD IN
THE 21ST CENTURY.

THIS IS CHINA FROM ABOVE.

CHINA’S 11,000 MILE COASTLINE

FEATURES INCREDIBLY
DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS.

FROM THE FRIGID BOHAI
\h\hBAY IN THE NORTH,

\h\hTO HAINAN ISLAND IN
THE FAR TROPICAL SOUTH.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE EASTERN
PROVINCES HAVE BECOME

THE PRODUCT OF CHINA’S
DRAMATIC URBANIZATION,

ATTRACTING MILLIONS
\h\hOF PEOPLE FROM

THE RURAL AREAS IN
JUST FOUR DECADES.

NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION,
OVER 600 MILLION, LIVE HERE.

THEY’RE NOW THE ECONOMIC GATEWAY
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

AND INCREASED PROSPERITY HAS
LED TO NEW CULTURAL, LEISURE,

\hAND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS,
UNTHINKABLE A FEW DECADES AGO.

AT THE HEART OF CHINA’S
RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION

\h\hARE BILLION-DOLLAR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

CONNECTING CITIES AND REGIONS

WITH EXTENSIVE ROAD
AND RAIL NETWORKS.

\h\hON THE SOUTHEAST COAST IS
ONE OF CHINA’S MOST AMBITIOUS

\hENGINEERING PROJECTS, THE
LONGEST SEA BRIDGE ON EARTH.

IT CONNECTS THREE MAJOR
CITIES ACROSS THE VAST

31 MILE PEARL DELTA,

A SEA INLET BATTERED
\h\h\h\hBY TYPHOONS,

\h\hAND HOME TO ONE OF THE
BUSIEST PORTS IN THE WORLD.

\hHONG KONG, MACAU,
AND ZHUHAI, ARE NOW

\h\hCONNECTED TO CHINA’S
MANUFACTURING HEARTLAND,

GUANGDONG, HOME TO
100 MILLION PEOPLE.

\h\h\hTHE BRIDGE CONTAINS ENOUGH
STEEL TO BUILD 60 EIFFEL TOWERS,

\hENOUGH CONCRETE TO FILL 400
OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOLS,

AND IS NOW NEAR COMPLETION,
DUE TO OPEN TO ROAD TRAFFIC.

SURVEYORS LI SHULIANG
\h\hAND XIONG JINHAI

ARE HELPING TO OVERSEE
\h\h\hTHE COMPLETION.

\h\hNarrator: THIS 24 MILE
LONG TRIPLE SPAN STRUCTURE,

\h\h20 TIMES LONGER THAN THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HAS TO BE

\h\hSTRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE A
HIT FROM A 300,000 TON VESSEL,

\h\h\hA MAGNITUDE EIGHT
EARTHQUAKE, OR TYPHOON.

\hNarrator: THIS IS
CHINA’S FIRST MAJOR

COMBINED BRIDGE AND TUNNEL
\h\hSEA-CROSSING PROJECT.

SMALLER SHIPS CAN SAIL
\h\hUNDER BUT TO ALLOW

GIANT CONTAINER SHIPS PASSAGE
\h\h\hTO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA,

THE ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH
\hAN IMAGINATIVE SOLUTION,

AN UNDERWATER ROAD
\hTRAFFIC TUNNEL.

BUT THE ONLY WAY TO
CONNECT THE TRAFFIC

FROM A ROAD BRIDGE TO
A SUBMERGED TUNNEL WAS

TO BUILD TWO ARTIFICIAL
ISLANDS AT EITHER END.

THESE ARE PROPPED UP BY 120
\h18 STORY STEEL CYLINDERS.

IN-BETWEEN IS A FOUR MILE
\hTUNNEL COMPRISED OF 33

\h\hGIANT TUBES CONNECTED
TOGETHER ON THE SEA FLOOR.

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
HOPES THAT THIS BRIDGE

\hWILL DRAW TOGETHER
NINE SOUTHERN CITIES

\h\hINTO ONE GIANT
MANUFACTURING HUB.

BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THIS

$17 BILLION BET WILL PAY OFF.

BUT NOT ALL OF CHINA IS MARCHING

TO THE BEAT OF RAPID
\hINDUSTRIALIZATION.

IN THE NORTH-EASTERN
\hPROVINCE OF JILIN

LIES CHAGAN LAKE, WHERE
\hSOME ANCIENT METHODS

OF PRODUCTION ARE SO EFFECTIVE
\h\h\h\hTHEY REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE FRESHWATER LAKE
IS 200 SQUARE MILES,

THE LARGEST IN THE PROVINCE.

HERE, WINTER’S DEEP FREEZE MAKES

AGRICULTURE AND FISHING
\h\hALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

\hTEMPERATURES GET AS LOW AS
MINUS 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

TURNING RIVERS AND LAKES
INTO FROZEN WILDERNESS.

BUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE HERE
\hARE STILL ABLE TO CATCH

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FISH
\hIN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER.

BY USING A THOUSAND YEAR
\h\hOLD ETHNIC MONGOLIAN

TECHNIQUE, THEY ARE ABLE
\h\hTO CATCH THE FISH ON

\hAN INDUSTRIAL SCALE WITH
JUST HORSE AND HUMAN POWER.

ZHANG WEN IS THE FISHING MASTER.

50 MEN WILL SPEND THE
WHOLE MORNING LAYING

THE NET UNDER TWO
FEET OF THICK ICE.

Narrator: THEY START
BY CUTTING A SERIES

\h\hOF HOLES THEY CAN
FEED THE NET THROUGH.

\hNarrator: THEY STILL
USE HORSE POWER TO TURN

\hA WOODEN WINCH, GRADUALLY
HAULING THE NET INTO PLACE.

Narrator: IN PAST YEARS,
\hTHEY HAVE CAUGHT OVER

\h175 TONS OF FISH FROM BELOW
THE ICE IN THE WINTER SEASON.

AND EACH YEAR THEY
HOPE TO DO BETTER.

\h\hAS DUSK APPROACHES, THE
SPINDLE MAKES ITS FINAL TURN

AND THE NET IS DRAWN BACK
\hUP THROUGH AN ICE HOLE.

IT’S BRIMMING WITH CARP AND
\hOTHER FRESHWATER SPECIES.

Narrator: THE FISHERMEN
\hWILL BE BACK TOMORROW

AND WILL CONTINUE
FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

CHINA HAS ALWAYS RELIED
ON ITS NATURAL RESOURCES

TO HELP PROVIDE FOR
ITS VAST POPULATION.

IN FACT, IT IS A
WORLD LEADER WHEN

IT COMES TO HARNESSING
\h\h\h\hTHE ELEMENTS.

\h\h\hCHINA NOW HAS
HIGHER POWER DEMANDS

THAN ANY OTHER NATION ON EARTH.

AND MORE AND MORE OF
ITS ENERGY IS COMING

FROM AN INFINITE COASTAL
\hRESOURCE, WIND POWER.

CHINA’S COASTAL WATERS HAVE SOME

\hOF THE HIGHEST AVERAGE
WIND SPEEDS IN THE WORLD.

JUST NORTH OF SHANGHAI
\h\hIS CHINA’S LARGEST

OFFSHORE WIND FARM, RUDONG.

IT HAS ALMOST 100
TURBINES OPERATING

\hIN SHALLOW WATER, JUST
FIVE MILES FROM THE SHORE

\hWITH 16 MORE TURBINES
READY FOR INSTALLATION.

THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH
\h\hBARGES TRANSPORTING

INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS
TO SEABED LOCATIONS.

20 SPECIALLY ADAPTED
VESSELS ARE USED IN

THE OPERATION, WHEN THE
TIDE AND WEATHER ALLOW.

\hTHE FIRST PHASE IS
TO PLACE PILLARS ONTO

\hA FOUNDATION PLATFORM
THAT SITS ON THE SEABED,

ONLY 16 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.

THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 241
\hTON, 230 FEET LONG PILLAR,

IS LOWERED SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY
BY THE CRANE OPERATOR.

BUT THEN IT HAS TO BE GUIDED
ONTO SCREW THREADS BY HAND.

THE TOP HALF OF THE STRUCTURE
\h\h\h\hIS USHERED INTO PLACE

WITH THE HELP OF THE ENGINEERS
\h\hINSIDE THE PILLAR ITSELF.

\hTHE MEN WILL BE ENCLOSED
HERE, BUT THEY HAVE ACCESS

TO INTERNAL LADDERS TO EXIT
THE STRUCTURE AT ITS BASE.

THE NEXT PHASE CONNECTS THE
THREE 260 FEET LONG TURBINE

BLADES ONTO THE ROTATING
HUB CALLED THE IMPELLER.

\hBY DAWN, IT’S TIME
FOR THE FINAL STAGE,

ATTACHING THE 26 TON BLADES
\h\hTO A 150 TON WHEEL HUB.

DESPITE ALL THE COMPUTER-AIDED
\h\hTECHNOLOGY, HUMAN GUIDANCE

\h\h\hIS STILL CRUCIAL IN
JOINING THESE COMPONENTS.

\h\h\hAFTER THREE DAYS OF
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK,

THE TURBINE IS COMPLETE.

\hNOW THE CREW WILL MOVE
ON TO A NEW INSTALLATION

\h\h\hAND THE PROCESS
STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.

AS CHINA’S ECONOMY CONTINUES
\h\h\h\hTO GROW, SO DOES ITS

\hURBAN POPULATIONS, WITH
MANY PEOPLE LEAVING BEHIND

\hRURAL VILLAGE LIFE FOR
THE LURE OF THE BIG CITY.

AND IN ONE CASE, AN ABANDONED
VILLAGE IS RETURNED TO NATURE.

HOUTOUWAN WAS ONCE
HOME TO A COMMUNITY

OF 2,000 FISHERMEN
AND THEIR FAMILIES.

\hSHENGSHAN ISLAND LIES JUST
50 MILES OFF SHANGHAI’S COAST

AND IS ONE OF 400 THAT MAKE
UP THE SHENGSI ARCHIPELAGO.

IT WAS A STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN
\hLIFE IN SUCH A REMOTE PLACE

AND 20 YEARS AGO, THE LAST
OF THE RESIDENTS DEPARTED.

IT WAS ALMOST UNKNOWN
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD,

UNTIL ZHOU JIE, A 36 YEAR
OLD DOCTOR FROM SHANGHAI,

\h\hSTUMBLED UPON THIS
CHINESE GARDEN OF EDEN.

\h\h\hNarrator: ZHOU JIE
IS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER.

\h\h\hNarrator: HER PHOTOGRAPHS
WENT VIRAL, SHOWING HOW QUICKLY

\h\h\h\hHUMAN ECOSYSTEMS CAN BE
RECLAIMED BY THE NATURAL WORLD.

CROWDS FROM SHANGHAI
NOW MAKE THE JOURNEY

\h\h\h\hTO EXPERIENCE THIS
VILLAGE’S RETURN TO NATURE.

\hNarrator: ENCOURAGED BY
THIS TOURISM, SOME FORMER

\hRESIDENTS HAVE NOW RETURNED
AND CREATED A NEW OPPORTUNITY.

Narrator: THIS FAMILY
\hWAS AMONG THE LAST

\h\hVILLAGERS TO LEAVE AND
RECENTLY RETURNED TO START

A SMALL RESTAURANT FOR VISITORS.

\h\hNarrator: FOR THE
BUSY HOSPITAL DOCTOR,

\h\h\hPHOTOGRAPHY HAS
ALWAYS BEEN AN ESCAPE.

Narrator: YET DESPITE MASS
MIGRATIONS TO THE CITIES,

\hIT’S NOT A ONE-WAY ROAD
FROM RURAL TO URBAN CHINA.

HAINAN PROVINCE OFF
THE SOUTHERN COAST

IS A TROPICAL ISLAND
\hWITH A FIERY PAST.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE ISLAND’S
\h\hHAIKOU VOLCANO CLUSTERS,

LOCAL YONGXING FARMERS
\hHAVE STRUGGLED WITH

\hTHE ROCKY VOLCANIC
SOIL FOR GENERATIONS.

\hTHE ONLY THING THAT GREW
HERE WAS THE LYCHEE FRUIT.

AND MAKING A LIVING
\h\hWAS DIFFICULT.

(GENTLE MUSIC)

CHEN TONGKUI’S FAMILY
\hFARMED LYCHEE HERE

\h\hFOR GENERATIONS WHICH THEY
SOLD CHEAPLY TO LOCAL MARKETS.

\h\hAFTER WORKING AS A
JOURNALIST IN SHANGHAI,

HE RETURNED TO HIS HOME VILLAGE
WITH A PLAN, TO GO ORGANIC

AND MARKET THE LYCHEE TO CITY
DWELLERS AT A PREMIUM PRICE.

\h\hNarrator: AND TONGKUI’S
BROTHER WAS ON HAND TO HELP.

Narrator: FIRST, HE UPGRADED
\hTHE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE
MARKETING PAID OFF.

\hTHE LYCHEES SOLD AT
THREE TIMES THE PRICE

IN SHANGHAI, TRANSFORMING
THE VILLAGERS’ FORTUNES.

\h\hMANY LEFT BEHIND
THEIR BASIC HOUSING,

CONSTRUCTED FROM VOLCANIC
\h\hROCK, FOR NEW HOMES.

\h\hNOW TONGKUI HAS A NEW
VENTURE, TO GROW SOMETHING

NEVER TRIED IN THEIR VOLCANIC
\h\h\h\hFIELDS, DRAGON FRUIT.

\h\hNarrator: HIS BROTHER
SPENT A YEAR CONSTRUCTING

\h\hTRELLIS WALLS FROM
THE OLD VOLCANIC ROCK.

Narrator: HAINAN’S
VOLCANOES HAVEN’T

ERUPTED FOR 84 YEARS.

BUT ONE COASTAL INLET IS HOME
\hTO ANOTHER ONE OF NATURE’S

\hMOST IMPRESSIVE, AND
DESTRUCTIVE, PHENOMENA.

HANGZHOU BAY, AN INLET
OF THE EAST CHINA SEA,

\hIS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE
WORLD’S LARGEST TIDAL BORES.

\h\h\hTHIS TIDAL PHENOMENON
OCCURS WHEN THE LEADING EDGE

OF THE INCOMING TIDE FORMS
\h\hA WAVE THAT TRAVELS UP

A NARROW RIVER OR BAY AGAINST
THE DIRECTION OF THE CURRENT.

KNOWN AS THE SILVER
DRAGON IN FOLKLORE,

IT’S STRONGEST IN THE FALL,
\h\hWHEN THE GRAVITATIONAL

\h\hFORCES OF THE MOON,
SUN, AND EARTH COMBINE.

\hSOME YEARS THE TIDE
REACHES 30 FEET HIGH.

IT HAS CAUSED DEATH
\h\hAND DESTRUCTION

IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY
\h\h\hDURING TYPHOONS.

BARRIERS NOW HELP
PROTECT THE PUBLIC

\hDURING THE BORE
WATCHING FESTIVAL.

XING YUN IS A QIANTANG
\h\hRIVER HYDROLOGIST.

\h\hNarrator: THE BORE
IS CAUSED BY THE STRONG

AUTUMNAL INCOMING TIDE
\hBEING FUNNELED FROM

THE WIDE BAY INTO THE NARROW
NECK OF THE QIANTANG RIVER.

THE OUT FLOWING RIVER
CURRENT THEN PUSHES UP

\hTHE BIGGER INCOMING WAVE
CREATING THE POWERFUL BORE.

\hA WALL OF WATER THAT RUNS
DOWN THE RIVER FOR 60 MILES

ATTRACTS SOME OF THE BEST BIG
\hWAVE SURFERS ON THE PLANET.

\h\h- THE TIDAL BORE IS REALLY
DIFFERENT FROM THE NORMAL WAVE,

IT’S AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE YOU
KNOW, IT’S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

- WE KNOW THE WAVE’S COMING,

IT GOES FOR AN HOUR
\h\hAND 40 MINUTES.

YOU GET 20 GOES OF IT.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

\h\hNarrator: TODAY
IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY,

THE TIDE-WATCHING FESTIVAL.

IT ATTRACTS UP 170,000 PEOPLE.

SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO KEEPING
\h\h\hAN ELECTRONIC EYE ON

THE BORE FROM MULTIPLE CAMERAS
\h\hINSTALLED ALONG THE ROUTE.

Narrator: YUN IS GOING TO
GET MUCH CLOSER AND TAKE A

\hSAMPLE OF THE SEDIMENTS JUST
AFTER THE BORE PASSES THROUGH.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: THE ROAR
OF THE TIDE ALERTS

THE THOUSANDS GATHERED
\h\hTO WATCH THE GIANT

\h\h\hWALL OF WATER
COLLIDE WITH A DAM.

\hWHEN IT BOUNCES BACK FROM
THE WALL, A CHAIN OF CHINESE

LANTERNS TRADITIONALLY ACT AS
THE BORE’S HEIGHT YARDSTICK.

Narrator: THE SCIENTISTS
\h\hHOPE THAT THEIR DATA

WILL HELP THEM TO PREDICT
\h\hWHICH YEARS THE BORE

\hCOULD BE AT ITS
MOST DESTRUCTIVE.

UP THE COAST, MORE BENIGN
\h\h\hTIDAL FORCES HELPED

CREATE AN INDUSTRY THAT
WAS THE ENVY OF THE WEST

\h\h\hFOR CENTURIES, AND IS
STILL CRITICAL TO THIS DAY.

\h\hIN A LANDSCAPE AS LARGE AND
DIVERSE AS CHINA’S, THE NATURAL

\hPROCESSES OF WEATHERING CAN
BRING GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

CHINA’S SALT LAKES AND
COASTAL SALT FARMS ARE

A RESOURCE THAT HAS LONG BEEN
\hTHE ENVY OF OTHER NATIONS.

YUNCHENG LAKE, KNOWN AS
THE DEAD SEA OF CHINA,

IS THE THIRD LARGEST SALT
SULFATE LAKE IN THE WORLD.

FAMED FOR ITS SKIN-HEALING
\hPROPERTIES, SULFATE SALT

ALSO COMBINES WITH ALGAE
TO PRODUCE VIVID COLORS.

ON THE COAST, SEA SALT FARMS
\hAREN’T QUITE AS COLORFUL,

\hBUT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT
NATURAL RESOURCE FOR CHINA,

THE WORLD’S LEADING PRODUCER
\h\h\hAND CONSUMER OF SALT.

BOHAI BAY, ON THE
NORTHEAST COAST.

\h\h\hHERE, THE ANCIENT
PRACTICE OF SALT FARMING

HAS BEEN UPDATED
FOR MODERN TIMES.

\h\hCHANGLU TANGGU SALT
WORKS, WHICH DATES BACK

\hOVER 1000 YEARS, IS THE
LARGEST PRODUCER IN CHINA.

\h\hNarrator: WANG HONGQING
IS PART OF A NEW GENERATION

WHO BRINGS MODERN SKILLS
TO AN ANCIENT PRACTICE.

\h\h\hNarrator: SALT
USED TO BE HARVESTED

ONCE A YEAR, IN AUTUMN.

\hNarrator: THE HIGH SALT
LEVELS OF THE NORTHEASTERN

\h\h\hCOASTLINE PRODUCE A
STUNNING VISUAL PHENOMENON

IN SEPTEMBER, THE RED
\hBEACHES OF PANJIN.

IT’S NOT THE SALT
\hTHAT TURNS RED,

BUT A FLOWERING PLANT,
\hCALLED A SEEP WEED.

IT THRIVES ON THE
HIGH CONCENTRATION

OF SALTY WATER IN THE BAY.

PART OF THE SHUANGTAI ESTUARY
\hNATIONAL RESERVE, IT’S ALSO

\hTHE MOST EXTENSIVE BIRD
SANCTUARY IN ALL OF CHINA.

\h\hTHE BRACKISH MUDFLATS
ATTRACT ONE OF ASIA’S MOST

\h\h\hENDANGERED AND
ICONIC BIRD SPECIES,

THE FIVE FOOT TALL
RED-CROWNED CRANE.

A TEAM OF CHINESE
CONSERVATIONISTS

ARE TRYING TO HALT
\h\hTHEIR DECLINE.

ZHAO SHIWEI IS REARING
\h\h\hCRANES FROM EGGS

TO RELEASE BACK TO THE WILD.

\h\hNarrator: SHIWEI
TENDS SEVERAL FLOCKS

AT DIFFERENT STAGES
\h\hOF DEVELOPMENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE
YOUNGEST FLOCK, AT NEARLY

\hTHREE MONTHS, IS ON
THE THRESHOLD OF THEIR

MOST IMPORTANT STAGE,
\h\hLEARNING TO FLY.

\h\hAFTER FEEDING, SHIWEI
RELEASES THEM TO PRACTICE.

\h\hNarrator: SOME
CRANES CAN ACHIEVE

SPECTACULAR FEATS OF FLIGHT,

MIGRATING NEARLY 10,000 MILES

AND REACHING HEIGHTS
\h\hOVER 5,000 FEET.

A MORE MATURE FLOCK CAN
FLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

\h\hUNLIKE MANY OTHER BIRDS,
THESE CRANES ARE BORN WITHOUT

THE INSTINCT TO MIGRATE AND
WILL RETURN TO THEIR PENS.

\hBUT ONE DAY SOME
OF THESE BIRDS WILL

FOLLOW WILD CRANES AND
VENTURE FURTHER AFIELD.

75 MILES SOUTH, ACROSS THE BAY,

IS THE SPIRITUAL AND
PHYSICAL CENTER FOR

A CHINESE PASTIME THAT TOOK
\h\hTO THE AIR AND MIGRATED

TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
\hOVER A MILLENNIUM AGO.

\h\hWEIFANG IS OFTEN CALLED
THE WORLD CAPITAL OF KITES.

IT IS LOCATED ON THE WINDSWEPT

\h\h\h\hNORTHEASTERN
PROVINCE OF SHANDONG.

NINE MILLION PEOPLE LIVE HERE.

BUT IT’S BEST KNOWN FOR ITS
\hKITE DISTRICT, YANGJIAPU.

AMONG THE 87 KITE FACTORIES
\h\hHERE IS WANG YONGXUN’S.

\h\hHE HAS HAD A PASSION FOR
KITES SINCE HE CAN REMEMBER.

\h\hNarrator: WHAT
STARTED AS A HOBBY

\hHAS DEVELOPED INTO
A THRIVING BUSINESS.

Narrator: THEY PRODUCE
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT

STYLES FOR MARKETS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

NEARLY 100 PEOPLE ARE
\hIN FULL PREPARATION

FOR THE BIG EVENT OF THEIR YEAR,

THE INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL
SET FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.

Narrator: THIS IS
THE 34TH TIME THAT

THIS COMPETITION HAS BEEN HELD.

\hIT ATTRACTS 40 TEAMS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

\hTHE EVENT ALSO COMBINES THE
13TH WORLD KITE CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHERE MANY COME TO UNVEIL THEIR
MOST CREATIVE KITE DESIGNS.

\h\h\h\hAFTER THE OPENING
CEREMONY, THE COMPETITORS

\h\h\h\h\hLAUNCH THEIR
CUTTING-EDGE CREATIONS.

YONGXUN HAS SEVERAL KITES
IN COMPETITION THIS YEAR,

BUT NOW IT’S TIME TO FLY
\hHIS SHOWPIECE DESIGN,

A GIANT OCTOPUS.

\hIT TAKES A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE TO HOLD IT DOWN.

\hIT’S NOT JUST FLYING
ABILITY THAT’S JUDGED.

\h\hOVERALL DESIGN AND
INNOVATION ARE CRUCIAL

FACTORS IN WINNING
\hTHE COMPETITION.

\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THIS YEAR,
HIS PASSION, AND HIS EXPERTISE,

ARE REWARDED, AND HE
WINS THE COMPETITION.

YONGSHUN ALSO LAUNCHES A
RETRO WOOD FRAMED KITE,

INSPIRED BY AN ANCIENT DESIGN.

\h\h\h\h\hA HOME GROWN
INVENTION THAT SPREAD,

\h\hLIKE A LOT OF CHINESE
INNOVATIONS AND PASTIMES,

\hALONG THE SILK ROAD
TO REST OF THE WORLD.

\h\hA SHORT DISTANCE FROM
WEIFANG LIES A PLACE THAT

\hTAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE
WIND THAT SHAPES THIS REGION.

\h\h\h\h\hQINGDAO IS CHINA’S
COMPETITIVE SAILING CAPITAL.

AFTER HOSTING THE
OLYMPICS IN 2008,

IT’S NOW A VENUE FOR MANY
\h\hOTHER SAILING EVENTS,

INCLUDING ONE SECOND ONLY
\h\hTO THE AMERICA’S CUP.

Narrator: EVERY YEAR,
TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS

FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
\h\hMEET HERE FOR A LEG

OF THE EXTREME SAILING SERIES,
\h\hTHE GRAND PRIX OF SAILING.

THIS YEAR PROFESSIONAL
\hLOCAL SAILOR LIU XIE

IS COMPETING IN THE EXTREME
SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

UNLIKE MANY OTHER SAILING
\hRACES, THIS COMPETITION

HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO
BE A SPECTATOR SPORT.

Narrator: THE EXTREME
SERIES BEGAN IN 2007,

FEATURING THE FASTEST
CRAFTS IN THE WORLD.

THESE DOUBLE-HULLED
\hFOILED CATAMARANS

ARE SHIPPED TO EACH
\hGRAND PRIX EVENT.

THIS YEAR, 24 YEAR OLD LIU
\hHAS AN EXTRA CHALLENGE,

HE’S PART OF A WILD CARD TEAM.

\h\h\hNarrator: LIU IS
ALSO HOPING TO INSPIRE

\hTHE NEXT GENERATION
OF CHINESE SAILORS WHO

ARE HOLDING THEIR
OWN SMALL REGATTA.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: 15
YEAR OLD NIU QINGHUA

IS ONE OF CHINA’S UP AND
COMING SAILING HOPEFULS.

\h\hNarrator: IT’S THE
FINAL RACE OF THE DAY.

\h\hBEING ON BOARD AN
EXTREME SAILING VESSEL

TAKES SKILL, MUSCLE,
\hAND DETERMINATION.

IT’S A WORKOUT.

THESE BOATS CAN REACH SPEEDS

OF UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR.

Narrator: CAPSIZING
IS ALWAYS A DANGER

\h\hAS THE SAILORS PUSH
THEMSELVES TO THE LIMIT.

IT SOON BECOMES A BATTLE
\h\hBETWEEN THREE TEAMS,

THE LEAD CHANGING SEVERAL TIMES.

LIU’S TEAM STRUGGLES AT
THE BACK OF THE FLEET.

\hAND EVEN THOUGH
THE WILD CARD TEAM

FINISHES LAST, LIU
IS PHILOSOPHICAL.

Narrator: IN ONE
SHORT GENERATION,

\hCHINA HAS CHANGED FASTER
THAN ANY NATION IN HISTORY,

THROUGH MAJOR ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

THAT HAVE HELPED GROW
ITS ECONOMY AND SECURE

\hTHE COUNTRY’S STATUS
AS A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE.

CHINA IS BROADENING
\hITS OUTLOOK, TOO,

\h\h\hFROM CONSERVATION AND
CELEBRATION OF OLD PASTIMES,

TO EMBRACING NEW SPORTS
AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES,

ALL WHILE RACING TO
\hADAPT TO THE 21ST

CENTURY CHALLENGES
\hTHAT LIE AHEAD.