1 00:00:04,004 --> 00:00:06,538 Protected by the Great Wall in the north, 2 00:00:06,606 --> 00:00:09,341 and fed by the Yellow and Yangtze rivers, 3 00:00:09,409 --> 00:00:14,013 China's eastern heartland is the centre of a flourishing civilisation 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,615 which spans more than 5,000 years. 5 00:00:20,954 --> 00:00:24,490 To outsiders this is a mysterious land. 6 00:00:34,734 --> 00:00:37,469 It contains dazzling man-made structures. 7 00:00:45,612 --> 00:00:49,982 And it's home to some of China's rarest and most charismatic creatures. 8 00:00:56,723 --> 00:00:59,725 The people who live here, the Han Chinese, 9 00:00:59,793 --> 00:01:02,828 comprise the largest ethnic group in the world, 10 00:01:02,896 --> 00:01:04,963 and their language, Mandarin, 11 00:01:05,031 --> 00:01:08,467 is the world's oldest and most widely spoken language. 12 00:01:19,245 --> 00:01:24,450 In the last 50 years China has seen massive development, 13 00:01:24,517 --> 00:01:27,152 bringing many environmental problems. 14 00:01:33,126 --> 00:01:37,429 But the relationship of the Chinese to their environment and its creatures 15 00:01:37,497 --> 00:01:41,667 is in fact deep, complex and extraordinary. 16 00:01:45,138 --> 00:01:49,041 In this programme we will look for clues to this ancient relationship 17 00:01:49,109 --> 00:01:52,311 and what it means for the future of China. 18 00:02:26,312 --> 00:02:30,315 Our journey starts at the very heart of China, Beijing. 19 00:02:31,484 --> 00:02:36,255 China's capital is a vast metropolis, home to 15 million people. 20 00:02:41,895 --> 00:02:45,063 This bustling modern city seems an unlikely place 21 00:02:45,131 --> 00:02:47,699 for traditional beliefs and customs. 22 00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:50,035 But beneath the contemporary veneer, 23 00:02:50,103 --> 00:02:53,372 it's possible to see glimpses of a far older China. 24 00:03:02,248 --> 00:03:05,918 Every morning, people head to the parks around the Forbidden City, 25 00:03:06,019 --> 00:03:08,954 to continue a custom which is centuries old. 26 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:26,838 Many Chinese keep birds as companions, 27 00:03:26,906 --> 00:03:31,276 specifically a type of laughing thrush from southern China. 28 00:03:31,344 --> 00:03:35,214 But they know that cooped up indoors, birds may become depressed. 29 00:03:35,281 --> 00:03:39,184 So they try to brighten their day by meeting other birds. 30 00:03:51,097 --> 00:03:54,633 This surprising scene in the heart of modern Beijing 31 00:03:54,701 --> 00:03:58,270 is a clue to China's oldest spiritual ambition, 32 00:03:58,338 --> 00:04:02,174 the harmonious co-existence of man and nature. 33 00:04:10,183 --> 00:04:12,284 But from the 1950s onwards, 34 00:04:12,352 --> 00:04:15,587 this ancient belief was to be severely challenged. 35 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:31,436 After a century of humiliation and intervention by foreign powers, 36 00:04:31,504 --> 00:04:34,606 Chairman Mao sought to rebuild China's dignity. 37 00:04:43,149 --> 00:04:45,884 Mao believed strongly in self-reliance, 38 00:04:45,952 --> 00:04:49,421 achieved through using all of nature's resources. 39 00:04:55,028 --> 00:04:58,130 Mao's first concern was to feed the Chinese people 40 00:04:58,197 --> 00:05:02,034 by turning as much land as possible over to grain production, 41 00:05:02,101 --> 00:05:04,102 destroying non-cereal crops 42 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:06,938 and uprooting fruit trees in the process. 43 00:05:12,712 --> 00:05:16,348 A campaign to eliminate crop-raiding sparrows backfired 44 00:05:16,416 --> 00:05:19,518 when insect-eating birds were also targeted, 45 00:05:19,585 --> 00:05:22,254 causing an increase in insect pests. 46 00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:33,432 Efforts to make China self-reliant in steel 47 00:05:33,499 --> 00:05:38,270 resulted in 10% of the country's forests being felled to feed the furnaces. 48 00:05:44,844 --> 00:05:48,680 This had a profound impact on China's environment, 49 00:05:48,748 --> 00:05:52,451 with effects, in some cases, lasting until the present day. 50 00:05:56,789 --> 00:06:00,792 Mao's policy towards the countryside has been described in the phrase, 51 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:03,428 "Man must conquer nature." 52 00:06:03,496 --> 00:06:08,333 Quite different from the ancient concept of harmonious co-existence with nature. 53 00:06:13,172 --> 00:06:16,308 As modern China engages with the outside world, 54 00:06:16,376 --> 00:06:19,544 which of these attitudes seems likely to prevail? 55 00:06:21,147 --> 00:06:22,547 To find the answers, 56 00:06:22,615 --> 00:06:25,517 we'll travel to the far reaches of the heartland 57 00:06:25,585 --> 00:06:30,489 to see how its traditional cultures and unique creatures are faring today. 58 00:06:36,429 --> 00:06:40,198 Beijing has always depended on the North China Plain, 59 00:06:40,266 --> 00:06:43,001 a rich farmland twice the size of the UK. 60 00:06:45,371 --> 00:06:49,274 The fertility of this plain derives from further west, 61 00:06:49,342 --> 00:06:51,243 from the Loess Plateau. 62 00:06:59,685 --> 00:07:03,722 The mineral-rich soil of the Loess Plateau is incredibly fertile. 63 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:10,195 People have lived here for thousands of years, 64 00:07:10,263 --> 00:07:13,131 hollowing their homes out of the soft soil. 65 00:07:17,870 --> 00:07:19,905 The caves might lack the glamour of Beijing, 66 00:07:19,972 --> 00:07:22,541 but people can survive here. 67 00:07:22,608 --> 00:07:26,578 Warm, secure, but best of all, well fed. 68 00:07:35,488 --> 00:07:37,923 As a result of centuries of farming, 69 00:07:37,990 --> 00:07:42,260 the landscape has become scarred with thousands of water-worn gullies. 70 00:07:47,166 --> 00:07:51,002 But this spectacular erosion has had an unexpected benefit. 71 00:07:52,839 --> 00:07:54,539 The streams which drain the gullies 72 00:07:54,607 --> 00:07:58,410 carry the fertile yellow soil into the plateau's major river, 73 00:08:01,781 --> 00:08:06,117 known to the Han people as the Mother of Chinese civilisation. 74 00:08:15,461 --> 00:08:18,029 This is the Yellow River. 75 00:08:26,172 --> 00:08:29,341 Each year the Yellow River carries billions of tons of sediment 76 00:08:29,408 --> 00:08:30,876 from the Loess Plateau 77 00:08:30,943 --> 00:08:34,412 eastwards to the crop fields of the Chinese heartland. 78 00:08:44,490 --> 00:08:49,227 Historically, the Chinese relationship with the river has been uneasy. 79 00:08:49,295 --> 00:08:52,564 Sediment, building up on the riverbed, has caused the Yellow River 80 00:08:52,632 --> 00:08:54,966 to burst its banks periodically, 81 00:08:55,034 --> 00:08:59,604 unleashing devastating floods, resulting in millions of deaths. 82 00:09:10,583 --> 00:09:15,287 But when tamed with dykes and channels, the river's bounty is legendary. 83 00:09:20,593 --> 00:09:25,096 Even today, half of China's wheat comes from the Yellow River floodplain. 84 00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:37,409 For thousands of years, the sediment-rich Yellow River 85 00:09:37,476 --> 00:09:41,479 has underpinned the prosperity of the Chinese heartland. 86 00:09:41,547 --> 00:09:44,849 But increased demand for water by people and industry 87 00:09:44,917 --> 00:09:47,352 now threaten to run the river dry. 88 00:10:02,535 --> 00:10:08,006 And the source of its fertility, the Loess Plateau, is also under threat. 89 00:10:08,074 --> 00:10:12,477 Loosened by cultivation, its soft soil is blowing away. 90 00:10:21,954 --> 00:10:25,090 The North China Plain is choked with dust storms 91 00:10:25,157 --> 00:10:27,792 that even loom over Beijing, 92 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:30,395 so much so that the Chinese government 93 00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:33,932 has made improving the city's air quality a priority 94 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,635 in the run up to the Beijing Olympics. 95 00:10:38,404 --> 00:10:42,307 Heartland China's life-support system is in trouble. 96 00:10:42,375 --> 00:10:46,378 Yet in a few places it's still possible to find landscapes 97 00:10:46,445 --> 00:10:49,147 that appear to have remained untouched. 98 00:10:54,487 --> 00:10:57,255 At the southern edge of the North China Plain 99 00:10:57,323 --> 00:10:59,858 lie the Qinling Mountains. 100 00:10:59,925 --> 00:11:02,360 At 1 ,500 kilometres long, 101 00:11:02,428 --> 00:11:05,797 they run like a backbone through the middle of China. 102 00:11:22,915 --> 00:11:27,352 Deep within the mountains is a maze of remote valleys and forests, 103 00:11:27,420 --> 00:11:30,188 home to strange and wonderful creatures. 104 00:11:33,292 --> 00:11:38,296 These are golden snub-nosed monkeys, a species unique to China. 105 00:11:43,803 --> 00:11:47,272 Seldom seen, they are frequently heard. 106 00:11:47,339 --> 00:11:51,443 Their strange child-like calls and extraordinary appearance 107 00:11:51,510 --> 00:11:53,812 may have inspired the local tales 108 00:11:53,879 --> 00:11:56,848 of a Yeti-like wild man of the mountains. 109 00:12:07,326 --> 00:12:11,129 As winter temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius, 110 00:12:11,197 --> 00:12:13,865 their dense fur keeps them warm. 111 00:12:17,770 --> 00:12:22,073 Mutual grooming not only keeps their precious fur in good condition, 112 00:12:22,141 --> 00:12:25,443 but also helps to reinforce bonds within the troop. 113 00:12:38,357 --> 00:12:41,693 In summer, the monkeys go around in huge bands, 114 00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:43,695 but at this lean time of the year 115 00:12:43,763 --> 00:12:46,698 they split up into smaller foraging parties. 116 00:13:10,289 --> 00:13:11,923 In the dead of winter, 117 00:13:11,991 --> 00:13:14,459 the monkeys are forced to rummage around the rocks 118 00:13:14,527 --> 00:13:17,462 for a few meagre morsels of lichen and moss. 119 00:13:24,303 --> 00:13:26,404 As the world surrounding their mountain home 120 00:13:26,472 --> 00:13:29,340 has filled up with towns and crop lands, 121 00:13:29,408 --> 00:13:33,845 the snub-nosed monkeys' habitat has changed dramatically. 122 00:13:33,913 --> 00:13:37,081 Today there are just 10,000 left in existence. 123 00:13:47,526 --> 00:13:50,328 To the people who live in the Qinling Mountains, 124 00:13:50,396 --> 00:13:54,766 the forest and its wildlife are a resource to be used, 125 00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:57,101 the basis of their livelihood. 126 00:14:00,906 --> 00:14:05,076 These people share the forest with an even more elusive inhabitant. 127 00:14:05,144 --> 00:14:08,346 It's probably China's most famous animal, 128 00:14:08,414 --> 00:14:10,715 but very few have ever seen it. 129 00:14:17,656 --> 00:14:21,659 Unlike the monkeys, this creature has a very specific diet, 130 00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:24,596 bamboo. 131 00:14:30,936 --> 00:14:33,371 It's a wild giant panda. 132 00:14:43,749 --> 00:14:46,818 Secretive, and sensitive to noise, 133 00:14:46,886 --> 00:14:51,422 the giant panda is often gone before anyone can get close to it. 134 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:03,902 The panda has long been known in China. 135 00:15:03,969 --> 00:15:07,872 It was mentioned in dictionaries more than 2,000 years ago 136 00:15:07,940 --> 00:15:11,209 and the Imperial Garden is said to have housed one. 137 00:15:14,313 --> 00:15:18,850 In the dense bamboo of the forest one panda rarely sees another, 138 00:15:18,918 --> 00:15:22,687 instead they communicate by subtle scent signals. 139 00:15:24,790 --> 00:15:28,760 At a metre-and-a-half long and 135 kilos, 140 00:15:28,827 --> 00:15:32,430 the giant panda is a member of the bear family. 141 00:15:32,498 --> 00:15:37,001 But its bear-like digestive system is built for eating meat, 142 00:15:37,069 --> 00:15:39,304 not this tough, fibrous stuff. 143 00:15:45,644 --> 00:15:50,048 And to make matters worse, the bamboo leaves are frozen solid. 144 00:15:50,115 --> 00:15:54,485 But the panda has devised a cunning way of breaking the ice off. 145 00:15:54,553 --> 00:15:57,288 It rubs the bamboo over its snout. 146 00:16:02,428 --> 00:16:03,795 Unlike other bears, 147 00:16:03,862 --> 00:16:07,899 the panda can't fatten itself up and hibernate through the winter. 148 00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:09,400 Bamboo is so low in energy 149 00:16:09,468 --> 00:16:12,637 that the panda must spend most of the day eating. 150 00:16:13,872 --> 00:16:18,042 Once it has exhausted one area, it must move on to the next. 151 00:16:21,947 --> 00:16:25,750 The panda's paw is surprisingly un-bear-like, too. 152 00:16:25,818 --> 00:16:28,653 It's flexible, with an enlarged wrist bone 153 00:16:28,721 --> 00:16:30,989 which allows it to grasp and manoeuvre the bamboo 154 00:16:31,056 --> 00:16:35,159 with a dexterity and precision that a monkey would be proud of. 155 00:16:36,462 --> 00:16:39,130 Twisting the bamboo leaves into a cigar shape 156 00:16:39,198 --> 00:16:41,332 makes them easier to munch. 157 00:16:51,977 --> 00:16:56,614 Hungry pandas once roamed across vast tracts of bamboo-rich forest 158 00:16:56,682 --> 00:16:59,384 that covered much of China's heartland. 159 00:17:04,990 --> 00:17:07,091 But since the 1950s, 160 00:17:07,159 --> 00:17:10,695 logging has fragmented the Qinling Mountain forests. 161 00:17:10,763 --> 00:17:15,299 Its remaining wild pandas are now confined within isolated reserves. 162 00:17:21,473 --> 00:17:26,844 In the last 50 years, China's heartland has been subjected to desertification, 163 00:17:26,912 --> 00:17:29,781 drying rivers and deforestation, 164 00:17:29,848 --> 00:17:33,217 affecting not only people, but wildlife, too. 165 00:17:39,191 --> 00:17:42,794 The relationship between the Chinese people and their environment 166 00:17:42,861 --> 00:17:45,396 appears to be out of balance. 167 00:17:45,464 --> 00:17:47,565 But if we dig a little bit deeper, 168 00:17:47,633 --> 00:17:51,836 there are some surprising and intimate connections even today. 169 00:17:57,076 --> 00:18:01,479 Clues to the nature of these links can be found in everyday life, 170 00:18:01,547 --> 00:18:04,382 even in the centre of China's capital city. 171 00:18:09,955 --> 00:18:12,090 In the parks of Beijing, 172 00:18:12,157 --> 00:18:16,194 Mandarin ducks keep a close watch over their young. 173 00:18:16,261 --> 00:18:19,430 Believed by the Chinese to pair for life, 174 00:18:19,498 --> 00:18:24,135 they have been seen for centuries as a symbol of love and fidelity. 175 00:18:30,342 --> 00:18:34,579 Images of these birds are believed to improve personal relationships. 176 00:18:53,932 --> 00:18:58,336 As a result, Beijing's Mandarin ducks are highly protected. 177 00:19:08,113 --> 00:19:10,848 The alleyways of the capital's ancient hutongs 178 00:19:10,916 --> 00:19:13,985 are home to a very different kind of creature. 179 00:19:16,321 --> 00:19:21,025 Each day Zhou Guoguang tends his brood of pigeons, 180 00:19:21,093 --> 00:19:25,496 his chance to escape the pressures of city life for an hour or two. 181 00:19:25,564 --> 00:19:27,165 Up here on the rooftops, 182 00:19:27,232 --> 00:19:30,701 Zhou is confident his charges will be safe. 183 00:19:30,769 --> 00:19:32,236 But in the streets below 184 00:19:32,304 --> 00:19:35,873 lurk dangerous spirits that scavenge and steal. 185 00:19:41,747 --> 00:19:46,751 Deeper into the hutongs, the influence of modern Beijing recedes. 186 00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:58,963 These alleys are full of ancient beliefs. 187 00:20:21,753 --> 00:20:26,490 As night falls, spirits emerge from their hiding-places. 188 00:20:30,796 --> 00:20:32,496 The yellow weasel. 189 00:20:38,470 --> 00:20:39,904 Some people believe 190 00:20:39,972 --> 00:20:43,874 that offending this crafty predator can bring bad luck, 191 00:20:43,942 --> 00:20:47,812 so they turn a blind eye to the weasel's night-time marauding. 192 00:20:51,016 --> 00:20:55,186 Old beliefs, coupled with a rising awareness of conservation, 193 00:20:55,254 --> 00:20:59,190 are helping the yellow weasel survive in the middle of Beijing, 194 00:20:59,258 --> 00:21:01,559 despite killing the odd pigeon. 195 00:21:09,735 --> 00:21:11,035 In the south of China, 196 00:21:11,103 --> 00:21:14,639 the relationship with nature appears more brutal. 197 00:21:14,706 --> 00:21:17,908 Cantonese cuisine is famous for its diversity, 198 00:21:17,976 --> 00:21:19,443 summed up in the saying, 199 00:21:19,511 --> 00:21:22,847 "We will eat anything on four legs, except a table." 200 00:21:24,683 --> 00:21:28,486 And though the government has banned the consumption of wildlife in China 201 00:21:28,553 --> 00:21:32,323 and most of the meat here comes from captive-bred animals, 202 00:21:32,391 --> 00:21:35,826 a significant amount is taken illegally from the wild. 203 00:21:53,278 --> 00:21:57,515 This restaurant in Hong Kong specialises in serpents. 204 00:21:57,582 --> 00:22:00,351 Most are harmless rat snakes, 205 00:22:00,419 --> 00:22:05,356 but with the odd cobra on the menu, one false move could spell trouble. 206 00:22:14,533 --> 00:22:16,434 Chau Ka-Ling has lost count 207 00:22:16,501 --> 00:22:19,804 of the number of times she's been bitten, 208 00:22:19,871 --> 00:22:23,607 so she always carries a Chinese herbal remedy, 209 00:22:23,675 --> 00:22:25,142 just in case. 210 00:22:27,312 --> 00:22:32,316 We might turn our noses up at such a strange choice of food, 211 00:22:32,384 --> 00:22:35,920 but eating snakes is more than just a matter of taste. 212 00:22:35,987 --> 00:22:39,190 The Cantonese believe it can help to clean the blood, 213 00:22:39,257 --> 00:22:42,593 increase vitality and beautify the skin. 214 00:22:45,764 --> 00:22:47,665 In such a crowded land, 215 00:22:47,733 --> 00:22:51,202 a tradition of eating everything with very little waste 216 00:22:51,269 --> 00:22:53,838 could be seen as commendable thrift. 217 00:22:57,809 --> 00:22:59,877 The problem is that there are so many people 218 00:22:59,945 --> 00:23:02,213 eating wild food in south China, 219 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,283 that the illegal supply chain stretches well beyond its borders, 220 00:23:06,351 --> 00:23:10,521 contributing to the disappearance of wildlife not only within China, 221 00:23:10,589 --> 00:23:12,857 but from other countries, too. 222 00:23:18,363 --> 00:23:21,298 A visit to a traditional Chinese medicine shop 223 00:23:21,366 --> 00:23:25,202 reveals another aspect of the use of animals and plants. 224 00:23:27,939 --> 00:23:31,075 Dr So has been practising for over 20 years. 225 00:23:33,779 --> 00:23:37,848 The most important part of his diagnosis is the pulse, 226 00:23:37,916 --> 00:23:40,017 examined in several places. 227 00:23:43,355 --> 00:23:47,691 Dr So also observes the colour of the tongue and eyes, 228 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:50,928 and asks questions about the patient's taste, 229 00:23:50,996 --> 00:23:53,564 smell and even dreams. 230 00:24:01,273 --> 00:24:06,310 Once satisfied with his diagnosis, he'll write a prescription, 231 00:24:06,378 --> 00:24:08,879 using a script unique to doctors. 232 00:24:11,583 --> 00:24:13,350 Chinese traditional medicine 233 00:24:13,418 --> 00:24:17,288 uses an incredible array of animals, vegetables and minerals 234 00:24:17,355 --> 00:24:20,991 to treat the individual rather than the illness, 235 00:24:21,059 --> 00:24:25,463 aiming to restore the harmony of opposing but complementary forces, 236 00:24:25,530 --> 00:24:27,998 known in China as yin and yang. 237 00:24:30,902 --> 00:24:33,204 The concept is rooted in the ancient belief 238 00:24:33,271 --> 00:24:35,473 that the universe is harmonious 239 00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:37,775 and that people are intimately connected to, 240 00:24:37,843 --> 00:24:40,578 and affected by, their environment. 241 00:24:44,583 --> 00:24:48,052 Despite the seemingly bizarre nature of the ingredients, 242 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:49,553 Chinese traditional medicine 243 00:24:49,621 --> 00:24:53,491 has been successfully treating people for thousands of years. 244 00:24:58,497 --> 00:25:01,031 But although the use of endangered wildlife ingredients 245 00:25:01,099 --> 00:25:03,734 in medicine is now banned in China, 246 00:25:03,802 --> 00:25:07,838 some wild animals and plants are still used illegally. 247 00:25:07,906 --> 00:25:10,441 Once again nature bears the cost. 248 00:25:16,414 --> 00:25:19,683 But Chinese tradition has borrowed from nature in other ways 249 00:25:19,751 --> 00:25:22,920 which are not in the least exploitative. 250 00:25:22,988 --> 00:25:25,489 In ancient Chinese philosophy, 251 00:25:25,557 --> 00:25:28,659 man was considered part of the natural world 252 00:25:28,727 --> 00:25:31,295 and able to benefit from its wisdom. 253 00:25:50,315 --> 00:25:52,149 Thousands of years ago 254 00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:55,052 Buddhist monks on sacred Shaolin Mountain 255 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:58,455 incorporated their observations of wild creatures 256 00:25:58,523 --> 00:26:00,758 into a system of exercises 257 00:26:00,825 --> 00:26:03,827 to help the flow of energy and build strength. 258 00:26:14,973 --> 00:26:19,143 This animal-inspired art-form became kung fu. 259 00:26:43,001 --> 00:26:45,703 Today, ancient Shaolin Mountain, 260 00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:49,807 the place where kung fu began, remains its prime training centre. 261 00:26:51,076 --> 00:26:53,110 Shi Yanting is a master. 262 00:27:01,886 --> 00:27:04,355 Students from all over the country come here to learn 263 00:27:04,422 --> 00:27:07,791 the ancient knowledge derived from the natural world. 264 00:27:22,474 --> 00:27:25,976 The emphasis today is perhaps more on the physical 265 00:27:26,044 --> 00:27:30,547 rather than the philosophical elements that underlie kung fu, 266 00:27:30,615 --> 00:27:33,183 but it's a significant re-awakening. 267 00:27:38,857 --> 00:27:40,157 This seven-year-old 268 00:27:40,225 --> 00:27:44,028 is perfecting the devastating punch of the praying mantis. 269 00:27:51,236 --> 00:27:54,905 When combined and perfected, these animal forms, 270 00:27:54,973 --> 00:28:00,210 such as mantis, monkey and crane, become an unstoppable force. 271 00:28:28,540 --> 00:28:31,942 Ancient Chinese philosophy took nature itself 272 00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:35,212 as the inspiration for its most fabulous creature. 273 00:28:36,314 --> 00:28:39,883 Fertile rivers may have shaped this civilisation, 274 00:28:39,951 --> 00:28:41,685 but the Chinese believed 275 00:28:41,753 --> 00:28:46,623 that the rivers themselves were formed and controlled by a dragon. 276 00:28:48,026 --> 00:28:50,527 Unlike the destructive dragon of the West, 277 00:28:50,595 --> 00:28:53,363 the Chinese dragon was benevolent, 278 00:28:53,431 --> 00:28:56,033 provided it was treated with respect. 279 00:29:03,775 --> 00:29:08,378 The ancient Chinese called themselves descendents of the dragon 280 00:29:08,446 --> 00:29:12,449 and knew they needed to live harmoniously in the dragon's realm. 281 00:29:17,021 --> 00:29:19,123 This respect for the dragon 282 00:29:19,190 --> 00:29:22,192 has relevance today for a remarkable creature 283 00:29:22,260 --> 00:29:25,863 which lives around the paddy fields of China's other great river, 284 00:29:25,930 --> 00:29:27,331 the Yangtze. 285 00:29:46,751 --> 00:29:51,255 This fearsome-looking beast is a Chinese alligator, 286 00:29:51,322 --> 00:29:53,390 known as the muddy dragon. 287 00:29:54,692 --> 00:29:58,829 Despite its association with the mythical Chinese dragon, 288 00:29:58,897 --> 00:30:04,401 the reptile has long been regarded by country people as a fish-eating pest, 289 00:30:04,469 --> 00:30:08,105 and has been persecuted almost to the point of extinction. 290 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:20,584 There are only around 150 Chinese alligators left in the wild, 291 00:30:20,652 --> 00:30:24,188 and it's mainly down to the care and protection offered by dedicated people 292 00:30:24,255 --> 00:30:28,926 like retired farmer Chang Jin Rong that any survive at all. 293 00:30:31,629 --> 00:30:35,365 Today, most Chinese alligators live in captivity. 294 00:30:35,433 --> 00:30:38,368 At this breeding centre near Xuancheng, 295 00:30:38,436 --> 00:30:42,172 Chinese alligators gather for their extraordinary courtship. 296 00:30:50,215 --> 00:30:52,950 The males bellow to attract a mate. 297 00:30:54,052 --> 00:30:56,119 As it travels through the water, 298 00:30:56,187 --> 00:30:59,256 the sound is both heard and felt by the female. 299 00:31:11,469 --> 00:31:14,671 The bellowing is her cue to investigate. 300 00:31:25,516 --> 00:31:28,619 In the alien world of the Chinese alligator, 301 00:31:28,686 --> 00:31:31,788 these two will be able to learn much about each other 302 00:31:31,856 --> 00:31:34,591 using the scent glands under their jaws. 303 00:31:38,429 --> 00:31:42,633 Satisfied with her choice, the two swim off together before mating. 304 00:31:50,808 --> 00:31:53,277 The muddy dragon owes its continued survival 305 00:31:53,344 --> 00:31:56,747 to a government initiative a quarter of a century ago, 306 00:31:56,814 --> 00:32:00,284 which created the captive breeding centre at Xuancheng. 307 00:32:09,994 --> 00:32:11,728 Having dug a little deeper, 308 00:32:11,796 --> 00:32:14,131 it does seem that ancient beliefs about nature 309 00:32:14,198 --> 00:32:16,800 still have resonance in modern China. 310 00:32:18,836 --> 00:32:22,906 Far upstream, along one of the Yangtze's mountain tributaries, 311 00:32:22,974 --> 00:32:25,008 another ambitious conservation project 312 00:32:25,076 --> 00:32:28,345 is attempting to save China's most famous creature. 313 00:32:32,350 --> 00:32:36,954 China's first captive breeding centre for the giant panda opened in 1983. 314 00:32:52,971 --> 00:32:55,739 This is Wolong Reserve, 315 00:32:55,807 --> 00:33:00,777 a far cry from the bamboo forests where wild pandas live. 316 00:33:00,845 --> 00:33:05,082 Every spring, male and female pandas are ferried around the site 317 00:33:05,149 --> 00:33:08,485 in the hope that introductions will lead to romance. 318 00:33:36,714 --> 00:33:41,752 Scientists have been trying to encourage the pandas to breed naturally, 319 00:33:41,819 --> 00:33:44,521 but it's difficult to get the conditions right 320 00:33:44,589 --> 00:33:49,326 since few people have ever seen how panda courtship happens in the wild. 321 00:33:54,232 --> 00:33:58,702 Meanwhile, artificial insemination has proved highly successful. 322 00:34:01,439 --> 00:34:06,510 At just five weeks old, this baby needs 24-hour care. 323 00:34:06,577 --> 00:34:10,914 It's simply too precious to be entrusted to its natural mother, 324 00:34:10,982 --> 00:34:13,950 who may have little experience of parenthood. 325 00:34:20,358 --> 00:34:22,692 After initial teething problems, 326 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,195 Wolong's artificial insemination programme 327 00:34:25,263 --> 00:34:28,298 has been remarkably successful. 328 00:34:28,366 --> 00:34:33,170 In 2006, the reserve reared 16 cubs, 329 00:34:33,237 --> 00:34:36,706 and there are now more captive-bred pandas at Wolong 330 00:34:36,774 --> 00:34:40,777 than can be safely released back into the shrinking wild habitat. 331 00:34:44,916 --> 00:34:49,252 In nature, giant pandas learn survival skills from their mother, 332 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:52,522 but have little contact with other pandas. 333 00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:56,259 These youngsters may have exceptional social skills, 334 00:34:56,327 --> 00:34:59,896 but they wouldn't have a clue how to survive in the wild. 335 00:35:02,433 --> 00:35:06,103 For the majority, their future lies in zoos. 336 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:11,208 While the ultimate value 337 00:35:11,275 --> 00:35:14,478 of captive breeding projects like this is debatable, 338 00:35:14,545 --> 00:35:16,446 there are places in China 339 00:35:16,514 --> 00:35:20,784 where animals are being successfully protected in their wild habitat. 340 00:35:32,730 --> 00:35:34,731 Right at the top of the Qinling Mountains 341 00:35:34,799 --> 00:35:37,367 lives a rare and mysterious creature 342 00:35:37,435 --> 00:35:41,004 that has inspired legends as far away as ancient Greece. 343 00:35:42,507 --> 00:35:45,942 The size of a buffalo and with a temper to match, 344 00:35:46,010 --> 00:35:51,648 this is the original owner of the golden fleece, the golden takin. 345 00:35:55,253 --> 00:35:57,754 Golden takin make their way to the top of the mountains 346 00:35:57,822 --> 00:35:59,789 for the breeding season. 347 00:36:00,791 --> 00:36:04,327 It's an opportunity for the males to prove their mettle. 348 00:36:09,534 --> 00:36:12,469 They are formidable and aggressive creatures. 349 00:36:44,969 --> 00:36:49,372 Now victorious, this male will have access to the females. 350 00:36:53,077 --> 00:36:55,545 Despite living high on the mountains, 351 00:36:55,613 --> 00:37:00,383 golden takin were once hunted to near extinction for their meat. 352 00:37:00,451 --> 00:37:03,153 In a return to the laws of ancient China, 353 00:37:03,221 --> 00:37:08,391 there's now a government ban on poaching and the takin is officially protected. 354 00:37:14,432 --> 00:37:16,733 Attitudes towards nature in China 355 00:37:16,801 --> 00:37:20,604 are clearly complex and rooted in tradition, 356 00:37:20,671 --> 00:37:23,540 and in the Qinling Mountains there is one story that shows 357 00:37:23,608 --> 00:37:26,543 just how valuable these traditions can be. 358 00:37:39,223 --> 00:37:43,460 Every morning a flock of crested ibis leave their roost, 359 00:37:43,527 --> 00:37:46,796 close to the village of Yangxian, in search of food. 360 00:37:48,466 --> 00:37:52,902 Traditionally, the birds' departure marked the start of the farmers' day. 361 00:37:55,740 --> 00:37:59,209 Crested ibises need wetlands for feeding, 362 00:37:59,277 --> 00:38:04,447 and rice paddies are the perfect place to hunt for eels, frogs and snails. 363 00:38:06,284 --> 00:38:11,354 The birds and farmers had probably coexisted here for thousands of years, 364 00:38:11,422 --> 00:38:15,125 until the 20th century when in many parts of China 365 00:38:15,192 --> 00:38:19,329 rice was replaced by more profitable wheat production. 366 00:38:19,397 --> 00:38:22,365 Crested ibis numbers rapidly declined. 367 00:38:22,433 --> 00:38:25,735 At one point, they were even believed to be extinct. 368 00:38:30,174 --> 00:38:32,575 Then, in 1981 , 369 00:38:32,643 --> 00:38:37,213 the last seven crested ibises on earth were found here. 370 00:38:40,117 --> 00:38:42,485 The Chinese government stepped in, 371 00:38:42,553 --> 00:38:46,156 protecting the rice paddies so the birds could continue to feed 372 00:38:46,223 --> 00:38:50,160 and safeguarding neighbouring trees to enable them to breed. 373 00:39:04,408 --> 00:39:06,609 Rescued from the brink of extinction, 374 00:39:06,677 --> 00:39:11,514 there are now 500 crested ibis living around Yangxian town. 375 00:39:11,582 --> 00:39:15,352 In modern China, room is being made for nature once again. 376 00:39:24,762 --> 00:39:27,030 But the appreciation of nature in China 377 00:39:27,098 --> 00:39:31,000 isn't confined to impressive animals or colourful birds. 378 00:39:31,068 --> 00:39:33,803 Mountain landscapes have held a fascination 379 00:39:33,871 --> 00:39:37,507 for Chinese artists and poets throughout history. 380 00:39:39,844 --> 00:39:41,945 Mountains also had religious significance 381 00:39:42,012 --> 00:39:45,715 as places that linked earth with the heavens. 382 00:39:45,783 --> 00:39:50,019 One of the most sacred of all is here at Mount Emei, 383 00:39:50,087 --> 00:39:53,022 the site of a 2,000-year-old Buddhist temple. 384 00:39:53,958 --> 00:39:57,494 China today has the world's largest Buddhist population. 385 00:40:15,246 --> 00:40:18,715 These old sacred sites are highly cherished. 386 00:40:18,783 --> 00:40:22,218 Nearly two million people visit Mount Emei each year. 387 00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:39,035 But the Buddhist temples are not the only attraction. 388 00:40:39,103 --> 00:40:44,107 Mount Emei is home to Tibetan macaques, the biggest of their kind. 389 00:40:44,175 --> 00:40:47,811 Their thick coats enable them to thrive in harsh mountain conditions 390 00:40:47,878 --> 00:40:50,713 at altitudes up to 3,000 metres. 391 00:41:02,626 --> 00:41:04,360 Ancient Chinese people believed 392 00:41:04,428 --> 00:41:07,530 that good deeds towards the human-looking macaques 393 00:41:07,598 --> 00:41:09,966 were an investment for eternity. 394 00:41:12,136 --> 00:41:14,370 But for these city-dwelling tourists, 395 00:41:14,438 --> 00:41:17,874 whose everyday lives are far removed from wildlife, 396 00:41:17,942 --> 00:41:21,678 this encounter is an uneasy mix of reverence and fear. 397 00:41:25,182 --> 00:41:28,585 For the macaques, too, it's an awkward relationship. 398 00:41:35,359 --> 00:41:38,228 The monkeys normally forage for fruit, 399 00:41:38,295 --> 00:41:42,499 but the tourists are a much easier source of food. 400 00:41:42,566 --> 00:41:46,736 Constant contact with people is changing the behaviour of the troop. 401 00:41:46,804 --> 00:41:50,807 Once wary of humans, the macaques are growing bolder. 402 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:12,462 How are tourists supposed to know 403 00:42:12,530 --> 00:42:15,999 that this eyebrow raising display means trouble? 404 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:27,176 Some of the more assertive monkeys have to be policed accordingly. 405 00:42:40,791 --> 00:42:45,862 While the impact on wildlife from mass tourism is not entirely beneficial, 406 00:42:45,930 --> 00:42:47,697 the fact that increasing numbers of people 407 00:42:47,765 --> 00:42:50,199 are enjoying nature at first hand 408 00:42:50,267 --> 00:42:52,969 suggests some hope for the future. 409 00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:06,282 Despite all the changes in China during the last 50 years, 410 00:43:06,350 --> 00:43:09,719 many sacred places like Emei have been protected. 411 00:43:21,699 --> 00:43:25,969 Heading west, China's heartland becomes increasingly rugged. 412 00:43:27,104 --> 00:43:31,774 Beyond the Qinling Mountains lies the even higher Min Shan, 413 00:43:31,842 --> 00:43:36,879 where towering peaks conceal one of China's most remarkable landscapes, 414 00:43:36,947 --> 00:43:40,650 known to the Chinese as fairyland paradise. 415 00:43:44,188 --> 00:43:48,458 Jiuzhaigou was virtually unknown until the 1970s. 416 00:43:48,525 --> 00:43:52,295 Today it's one of China's most famous tourist areas, 417 00:43:52,363 --> 00:43:56,132 and is recognised internationally as a World Heritage Site. 418 00:44:39,710 --> 00:44:44,147 The limestone mountains are the source of crystal-clear springs 419 00:44:44,214 --> 00:44:48,351 which have formed over 100 lakes filled with lime-rich water 420 00:44:48,419 --> 00:44:50,319 of unbelievable colour. 421 00:45:05,636 --> 00:45:11,374 Underwater is a perfectly preserved ghostly forest, shrouded in algae. 422 00:45:32,863 --> 00:45:36,432 This strange world is home to a species of fish 423 00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:38,367 unique to these lakes. 424 00:45:47,111 --> 00:45:50,646 Who would have guessed that with close to a billion inhabitants 425 00:45:50,714 --> 00:45:56,252 China's heartland could still harbour a landscape of such pristine beauty? 426 00:46:01,291 --> 00:46:03,926 It's spring in the Qinling Mountains. 427 00:46:05,763 --> 00:46:08,197 As the farmers tend their new crops, 428 00:46:08,265 --> 00:46:11,200 the secret life of China's most famous animal 429 00:46:11,268 --> 00:46:13,402 is finally coming to light. 430 00:46:16,006 --> 00:46:20,543 In one of the panda's last strongholds, a drama is about to unfold, 431 00:46:22,312 --> 00:46:24,847 one which has rarely been witnessed. 432 00:46:31,255 --> 00:46:34,690 A young female has ventured into the valley, 433 00:46:34,758 --> 00:46:38,261 sparking a flurry of interest among the resident males. 434 00:46:49,973 --> 00:46:55,444 A panda's life is mostly solitary, until the spring breeding season. 435 00:46:56,513 --> 00:46:59,315 When the brief opportunity to mate arises, 436 00:46:59,383 --> 00:47:02,852 the males must be ready to take their chance. 437 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:05,087 But timing is everything. 438 00:47:12,663 --> 00:47:16,098 This male's approach is somewhat lacking in subtlety, 439 00:47:16,166 --> 00:47:19,435 and anyway, the female isn't ready for him yet. 440 00:47:19,503 --> 00:47:22,605 Her peak receptive time lasts just two days. 441 00:47:24,141 --> 00:47:28,678 So he guards her, biding his time with a good supply of bamboo. 442 00:47:32,115 --> 00:47:36,052 Unfortunately his hostage must eat, too, 443 00:47:36,119 --> 00:47:39,055 but she doesn't exactly feel like descending. 444 00:47:45,062 --> 00:47:47,797 Another male has been attracted to the scene. 445 00:47:47,865 --> 00:47:50,633 He's a veteran of many breeding seasons. 446 00:47:53,704 --> 00:47:55,638 He's wary of his rival, 447 00:47:55,706 --> 00:47:58,641 because at this time of year males are transformed 448 00:47:58,709 --> 00:48:02,745 from peace-loving bamboo eaters into potential killers. 449 00:48:07,951 --> 00:48:10,987 Despite the danger, he makes a challenge. 450 00:48:12,756 --> 00:48:15,625 The defending male rises to meet him. 451 00:48:22,633 --> 00:48:25,701 The challenger is chased by the defending male. 452 00:48:28,105 --> 00:48:32,441 In the thick bamboo, the battle rages as the males fight for dominance. 453 00:48:41,318 --> 00:48:44,120 The female wisely stays clear of trouble. 454 00:48:47,090 --> 00:48:49,959 The challenger backs down. 455 00:48:50,027 --> 00:48:53,829 The size and strength of the defending male is just too much. 456 00:48:56,900 --> 00:49:00,336 The loser retreats and the exhausted but triumphant victor 457 00:49:00,404 --> 00:49:02,271 returns to the female. 458 00:49:29,199 --> 00:49:31,467 This time she's ready for him. 459 00:49:33,570 --> 00:49:35,805 Instead of running, she waits. 460 00:49:58,061 --> 00:50:01,664 This is the first time this extraordinary courtship behaviour 461 00:50:01,732 --> 00:50:04,433 has ever been filmed in the wild. 462 00:50:07,738 --> 00:50:10,106 If mating is successful, 463 00:50:10,173 --> 00:50:14,243 the female will produce a single cub and rear it on her own. 464 00:50:17,381 --> 00:50:21,550 Today, with improving attitudes towards wildlife conservation, 465 00:50:21,618 --> 00:50:26,255 there is hope that China's 1 ,600 remaining wild pandas 466 00:50:26,323 --> 00:50:28,557 have some chance of survival. 467 00:50:33,096 --> 00:50:38,200 In 2003, conservation became an integral part of the curriculum 468 00:50:38,268 --> 00:50:41,137 for China's 200 million school students. 469 00:50:50,480 --> 00:50:53,015 For the children of the Qinling Mountains, 470 00:50:53,083 --> 00:50:55,551 knowing what a special neighbour they have 471 00:50:55,619 --> 00:50:58,254 may help to protect it for the future. 472 00:51:14,604 --> 00:51:16,772 In the midst of headlong change, 473 00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:20,443 conducted at a pace unprecedented in human history, 474 00:51:20,510 --> 00:51:24,580 can China hold on to its ancient desire for harmony with nature? 475 00:51:36,326 --> 00:51:39,395 Can it reconcile the aspirations of its people 476 00:51:39,463 --> 00:51:42,798 with the long-term need to protect its environment? 477 00:52:04,621 --> 00:52:08,924 Here at the Temple of Heaven, in the very heart of Beijing, 478 00:52:08,992 --> 00:52:12,161 there are signs of a new attitude towards nature. 479 00:52:24,274 --> 00:52:29,411 Every year, as thousands of birds migrate southwards to escape the winter, 480 00:52:29,479 --> 00:52:33,582 one secretive species seeks shelter in the temple grounds. 481 00:52:36,653 --> 00:52:39,021 Safeguarded by the temple's tradition, 482 00:52:39,089 --> 00:52:42,791 as many as 10 owls can be seen in the same tree. 483 00:52:56,973 --> 00:52:58,440 The owls' arrival is celebrated 484 00:52:58,508 --> 00:53:01,977 by members of the recently formed Beijing Bird Club. 485 00:53:20,096 --> 00:53:23,199 Migration can be a dangerous undertaking, 486 00:53:23,266 --> 00:53:26,835 and every year many owls suffer the hazards of power lines, 487 00:53:26,903 --> 00:53:28,704 traffic and industry. 488 00:53:30,840 --> 00:53:35,344 Some of the more fortunate end up here, at Beijing's Raptor Rescue Centre. 489 00:53:36,346 --> 00:53:40,583 Established in 2001 , it's the first of its kind. 490 00:53:44,888 --> 00:53:49,558 Here owls are given medical attention by Sun Quanhui and his team. 491 00:53:58,034 --> 00:54:01,670 The birds are even exercised to help their rehabilitation. 492 00:54:11,214 --> 00:54:13,282 Once deemed fit and healthy, 493 00:54:13,350 --> 00:54:16,852 the owls are taken to the hills at the edge of Beijing. 494 00:54:40,076 --> 00:54:44,246 Every spring, staff from Beijing's Raptor Rescue Centre 495 00:54:44,314 --> 00:54:46,248 release dozens of owls. 496 00:54:48,018 --> 00:54:53,255 Today there are over 1 ,500 designated nature reserves in China 497 00:54:53,323 --> 00:54:57,326 covering large tracts of some of the country's finest landscapes. 498 00:55:08,138 --> 00:55:12,408 As China looks to the future with a renewed sense of direction, 499 00:55:12,475 --> 00:55:16,278 ancient traditions are still very much a part of its culture. 500 00:55:19,249 --> 00:55:21,784 It's Chinese New Year. 501 00:55:21,851 --> 00:55:25,554 All over the country, the people prepare to appease their oldest 502 00:55:25,622 --> 00:55:28,824 and most venerated creature, the dragon. 503 00:55:39,969 --> 00:55:44,440 As night falls, everyone from the neighbourhood brings a lantern. 504 00:55:48,578 --> 00:55:52,414 And one by one, the lights are added to the dragon's tail. 505 00:55:57,387 --> 00:56:01,156 As the procession grows longer, the atmosphere builds 506 00:56:01,224 --> 00:56:05,394 with the spectacle of one of China's oldest and greatest inventions. 507 00:56:21,444 --> 00:56:25,080 The dragon dance is performed all over China. 508 00:56:25,148 --> 00:56:28,350 The ceremony itself is thousands of years old, 509 00:56:28,418 --> 00:56:31,820 but it's still the highlight of the Chinese New Year. 510 00:56:34,324 --> 00:56:37,459 As the dragon winds its way through the village, 511 00:56:37,527 --> 00:56:40,562 it has grown hundreds of metres long. 512 00:56:40,630 --> 00:56:42,531 Everyone is part of it. 513 00:57:08,057 --> 00:57:11,894 After a century of unprecedented change in China, 514 00:57:11,961 --> 00:57:15,497 during which environmental protection has not been a priority, 515 00:57:15,565 --> 00:57:18,267 there are now signs of a new direction. 516 00:57:24,274 --> 00:57:26,742 In October 2006, 517 00:57:26,810 --> 00:57:30,012 the Communist Party specifically identified 518 00:57:30,079 --> 00:57:33,449 promoting harmony between man and nature 519 00:57:33,516 --> 00:57:39,054 as an important step in their goal of building a harmonious society, 520 00:57:39,122 --> 00:57:41,256 and called on the Chinese people 521 00:57:41,324 --> 00:57:46,428 to accelerate the construction of an environmentally friendly society. 522 00:57:56,506 --> 00:57:59,308 As China's economy continues to grow, 523 00:57:59,375 --> 00:58:03,111 its re-engagement with the ancient ideal of harmony with nature 524 00:58:03,179 --> 00:58:07,182 provides a glimmer of hope for the future of wild China.