Original subtitles

♪

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

AND HURTLING FORWARD.

IN THIS AERIAL JOURNEY,

\h\h\hWE’LL SEE THE SPRAWLING NATION FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE \hMONKS MOVE MOUNTAINS

AND PEASANTS ENGINEERED \h\h\h\h\hMASTERPIECES.

\hHERE 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.

\h\h\hHOME TO 55 ETHNIC GROUPS SPEAKING 120 LIVING LANGUAGES.

THEY’VE BUILT LIVES IN THE \h\hUNLIKELIEST OF PLACES,

\hFROM STEEP RIVER VALLEYS, TO HARSH DESERT LANDSCAPES.

\hNATURE HAS BEEN AN ENEMY AND ALLY

AS THE PEOPLE HERE CARVED OUT

UNIQUE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS.

\hIN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA IS THE CITY OF JINGHONG,

\h\hWHERE A TEMPLE CALLED "THE GOLDEN TOWER" STANDS.

THE MEKONG RIVER FLOWS HERE,

WHICH THE CHINESE CALL LANCANG.

\hTODAY, THE RIVER IS THE SITE OF AN IMPORTANT EVENT

FOR THE DAI PEOPLE,

A THREE DAY WATER FESTIVAL \hTO MARK THEIR NEW YEAR.

THERE ARE 1.2 MILLION \hDAI PEOPLE IN CHINA,

MOST OF WHOM LIVE \hIN THIS REGION.

RELATIVES OF THE THAI LAO DAI \h\hHAVE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

AND CALENDAR FROM THE REST OF CHINA.

\h\h\hTHEIR NEW YEAR KICKS OFF IN APRIL,

THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

\h\hFOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS, DRAGON BOAT RACES DOMINATE.

12 VILLAGES HAVE TEAMS HERE, \h\hEACH ONE HOPING TO WIN.

Yan Hong Han: I AM YAN HONG HAN FROM MAN CHING VILLAGE.

WE ARE PREPARING TO \hHEAD TO THE RIVER

TO TAKE PART IN THE YEARLY \hDRAGON BOAT COMPETITION.

THIS YEAR THE BOAT \hFROM OUR VILLAGE

IS THE LARGEST AMONGST ALL THE PARTICIPANTS.

\h\hWE ALSO HAVE THE MOST HANDS ON DECK.

\h\hWE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL WIN THE RACE THIS YEAR.

♪

\h\h\hNarrator: THE FESTIVAL KICKSTARTS

IN A DISTINCTLY CHINESE WAY,

WITH A BANG.

[FIREWORKS CRACKLING]

♪

\h\h\h\hIN THESE RACES SPEED DEPENDS ON SYNCHRONIZATION.

BOATS CAN VARY IN SIZE,

AND EACH ONE HAS A DRUMMER

WHO SETS A TEMPO FOR THE OARSMAN.

\hYan Hong Han: EVERYONE HAS TO FOLLOW THE RHYTHM

AND TEMPO OF THE DRUMMER.

HE WILL GUIDE EVERYONE \h\hTO ROW IN UNISON,

\h\hOTHERWISE THERE WILL BE CHAOS AND CONFUSION.

[DRUMS BEATING]

Narrator: THIS YEAR, YAN’S \h\hBOAT ULTIMATELY LOSES,

BUT HE’S ALREADY LOOKING AHEAD.

Yan Hong Han: I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE PART AGAIN NEXT YEAR,

\h\hBECAUSE THE DRAGON BOAT RACE IS SOMETHING

EVERY DAI MAN SHOULD \h\h\hTAKE PART IN.

\h\hNarrator: AS THE SUN SETS OVER THE LANCANG,

PEOPLE WADE INTO THE RIVER.

THEY LIGHT LANTERNS,

\h\h\h\hA CHINESE TRADITION BELIEVED TO WARD OFF GHOSTS,

AND BRING GOOD LUCK.

♪

\h\hTHE THIRD AND FINAL DAY OF THE FESTIVAL BEGINS IN PRAYER.

THE DAI PRACTICE BUDDHISM,

ONE OF THE FIVE MAJOR \hRELIGIONS IN CHINA.

\h\h\h\h\hMan: WE ARE HEADING TO THE TEMPLE

\hFOR AN IMPORTANT EVENT KNOWN AS BUDDHA WASHING.

WE WILL WASH THE BUDDHA STATUES

\h\h\hAND THEN PRESENT OFFERINGS AND PRAYERS.

Narrator: FOR THEM, \hWATER IS A SYMBOL

\hOF BOTH GOODWILL AND PURIFICATION.

\hWITH THE BUDDHA BATHING COMPLETE,

THE CELEBRATION MOVES \hTO ITS GRAND FINALE.

[CROWD CHEERING] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h♪

BY THE RIVER BANK,

\h\h\hTHOUSANDS TAKE PART IN WHAT MAY BE

THE WORLD’S BIGGEST WATER FIGHT.

IT BEGAN CENTURIES AGO AS A FAR MORE GENTLE RITUAL.

\hPEOPLE WITH POUR A TRICKLE OF WATER

ON ONE ANOTHER FOR GOOD LUCK.

\hOVER THE YEARS, IT GREW INTO THIS,

A DRENCH FEST, WHERE TOURISTS \h\h\h\hARE A FAVORITE TARGET.

WITH 100,000 PARTICIPANTS,

\h\hNEARLY EVERYONE WALKS AWAY WITH AMPLE GOOD LUCK.

TRADITION ALSO THRIVES

\h1100 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 \h\hOF CHEN BUDDHISM

\hKNOWN MORE COMMONLY BY ITS JAPANESE NAME,

ZEN BUDDHISM.

BUT THIS TEMPLE MAY BE BEST KNOWN FOR ITS WARRIOR MONKS.

\h\h\h\hTHEY PRACTICE AN ANCIENT FORM OF KUNG FU

\hTHAT’S INSPIRED DOZENS OF MOVIES AND TV SHOWS,

INCLUDING THE LANDMARK 1970 SERIES "KUNG FU".

IT FEATURED A SHAOLIN MONK \hWHO BRAVED THE WILD WEST

WITH JUST SPIRITUAL AND \hMARTIAL ARTS TRAINING.

\hTODAY THE MONASTERY DRAWS KUNG FU STUDENTS

FROM ACROSS CHINA.

\hYan Fei: I’M 18 YEARS OLD, I COME FROM ANHUI.

I HAVE BEEN IN SHAOLIN TEMPLE SINCE I WAS 13.

\hSINCE I WAS YOUNG, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED

TO BECOME A SHAOLIN \h\h\hWARRIOR MONK.

Narrator: THE MONKS BEGIN TESTING FUTURE CANDIDATES

WHEN THEY’RE JUST CHILDREN.

AND TRAINING CAN BEGIN \h\hAS EARLY AS EIGHT.

DISCIPLES SPEND YEARS WORKING

TO MASTER A MIND BODY CONNECTION.

Yan Hong: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHAOLIN KUNG FU

AND OTHER SCHOOLS \hOF MARTIAL ARTS,

IS THAT IT ENCOMPASSES ZEN.

ZEN IS CULTIVATION OF THE MIND,

AND INNER MEDITATION \h\h\hOF THE HEART.

Narrator: THE ORIGINS \h\hOF SHAOLIN KUNG FU

ARE LOST IN LEGEND,

\h\h\hBUT IT’S BELIEVED THE FIRST TWO CHINESE DISCIPLES

BROUGHT MARTIAL ARTS HERE CENTURIES AGO.

\h\hTHOSE SKILLS WERE BLENDED WITH BUDDHISM

\h\h\hTO CREATE THIS DEMANDING PRACTICE.

Yan Fei: THE TRAINING \h\h\h\hIS 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.

\h\h\h\hYan Cen: AMONG THE MANY JUNIORS HERE,

YAN FEI IS CONSIDERED \h\h\h\h\hQUITE GOOD,

\hBECAUSE HE IS ABLE TO ENDURE HARDSHIP.

♪

\hNarrator: TODAY, YAN FEI HAS A CRUCIAL ASSESSMENT.

\hHE’S SPARRING WITH HIS WEAPONS MASTER,

\hAND MUST PROVE HIS SKILLS WITH A COMPLEX TRIPLE STICK.

YAN FEI FAILED THIS \hTEST ONCE BEFORE.

[FIGHTERS GROANING]

\hYan Fei: AT FIRST, IT WAS REALLY TOUGH

\hPRACTICING 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.

\h\h\h\hYan Cen: THERE IS A SAYING IN CHINA.

\hSHIFU BRINGS YOU THROUGH THE DOOR,

\hBUT THE PRACTICE LIES WITHIN THE MAN HIMSELF.

I CAN ONLY GUIDE HIM, \h\hSHOW HIM THE WAY.

\hNarrator: THE LOCATION OF THE SHAOLIN MONASTERY

IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT.

IT SITS AT THE BASE \hOF MOUNT SONGSHAN,

THE CENTRAL SACRED MOUNTAIN IN CHINA.

THESE MONKS PRACTICE \h\h\hNEAR 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

♪

\h\hTHIS 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,

\h\hAND TODAY IS ONE OF THIS NATION’S LARGEST RELIGIONS.

\hTHE 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 \h\hA BIG WHIRLPOOL.

\hIN 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.

\h\hTWO OF HIS DISCIPLES CARRIED ON THE PROJECT,

DUMPING TONS OF STONE INTO THE WATER BELOW.

ALL THAT SEDIMENT ALTERED \hTHE COURSE OF THE RIVER,

MAKING IT SAFER.

AFTER 90 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION,

\h\h\hTHE BUDDHA WAS FINISHED IN 803 AD,

DURING THE TANG DYNASTY.

♪

\hMao Mingxiang: EVER ERA CARRIES THEIR OWN

DEPICTION OF THE BUDDHA.

DURING THE TANG DYNASTY, THE \hSOCIETY WAS WELL ADVANCED.

THE ECONOMY WAS FLOURISHING \h\hAND LIFE WAS PROSPEROUS.

OFTEN IN TANG PAINTINGS,

THE SUBJECTS APPEAR PLUMP AND DIGNIFIED.

THIS IS THE CHARACTERISTIC \h\h\h\h\hOF TANG DYNASTY.

\h\h\hNATURALLY, THE GRAND BUDDHA STATUE

CONVEYS THESE FEATURES.

\h\h\hNarrator: THIS GRAND BUDDHA REMAINS

AN INSPIRATION 1200 YEARS LATER.

400 MILES AWAY IN HUNAN PROVINCE

IS ANOTHER EPIC HOLY SITE,

\hBUT THIS ONE WAS CARVED BY NATURE.

♪

THIS IS TIANMEN SHAN,

THE HEAVEN’S GATE CAVE,

LONG BELIEVED TO BE A \hGATEWAY TO PARADISE.

\hBUT 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 \h\h\hIN JUST SIX MILES.

ALONG THE WAY ARE THE MOUNTAIN \h\h\hFORESTS OF ZHANGJIAJIE.

♪

\h\h\hITS FAMOUS PILLARS REACH NEARLY 5,000 FEET,

THREE TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.

IN 1982, THE AREA BECAME

\h\h\hCHINA’S FIRST NATIONAL FOREST PARK

TO PROTECT THE MANY ENDANGERED \h\h\hSPECIES THAT LIVE HERE.

\h\hTODAY, 30 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THE PARK,

\hMANY RISKING A RIDE ON THE WORLD’S HIGHEST

OUTDOOR ELEVATOR.

\h"THE HUNDRED DRAGONS LIFT" RISES A DIZZYING 1,000 FEET.

\h\hBUT SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE INTERESTED

IN WHAT’S AT GROUND LEVEL.

\h\hTian Mingzhong: HERE, AS WE CAN SEE,

IS A LAYER OF QUARTZ ROCK.

THE LAYER AT THE BOTTOM \h\h\hIS THE SOFT LAYER.

THE LANDSCAPE OF ZHANG JIA JIE

\h\hIS FORMED BY STACKING THESE TWO TYPES OF ROCKS.

Narrator: NEXT, THE GEOLOGY \hPROFESSOR AND HIS STUDENTS

HEAD TO THE HEAVENS VIA THE \hWORLD’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,

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS SIGHT IS BOTH ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY.

Tian Mingzhong: THE \h\h\hBOTTOM LAYERS

ARE MADE UP OF HARDER ROCKS.

\h\h\h\hTHE MIDDLE LAYERS CONSISTS OF SOFTER ROCKS,

WHICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE \h\h\h\hTO CORROSION.

\hAND THE TOP MOST LAYER IS MADE UP OF THE HARDER ROCKS.

THE HEAVENLY DOOR \hCAVE TOOK SHAPE,

\h\h\h\h\hBY THE SOFTER ROCK’S GRADUALLY CORRODING OVER TIME

FORMING A HOLE.

\hTHERE ARE MANY SIMILAR FORMATIONS IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\hHOWEVER, THIS IS A RARITY, GIVEN ITS HEIGHT.

\h\hYOU SPEND A LOT OF ENERGY TO GET UP HERE

TO SEE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

IT’S DEFINITELY REWARDING.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: OUT OF ALL OF CHINA’S WONDERS, ONE STANDS OUT,

THE GREAT WALL

IT’S THE LONGEST MAN-MADE \h\h\hSTRUCTURE ON EARTH,

\h\hSTRETCHING MORE THAN 6,000 MILES ACROSS NORTHEAST CHINA.

THIS WALL IS ACTUALLY \h\hA SERIES OF WALLS

\hBUILT OVER 2,000 YEARS BY SUCCESSIVE DYNASTIES.

\h\h\h\hIN 221 BC, THE FIRST EMPEROR OF THE UNITED CHINA

WANTED TO WARD OFF FOREIGN INVADERS.

\hHE ORDERED THAT SCATTERED FORTIFICATIONS BE CONNECTED,

A FEAT THAT REQUIRED A MILLION MEN AND COST COUNTLESS LIVES.

\hZhao Hui: THE GREAT WALL HAS NOT MUCH PRACTICAL USE

IN THE MODERN AGE.

BUT, IN THE ANCIENT TIMES,

\hIT SERVED AS A DEFENSE FORTRESS DURING WARTIME.

\h\hHENCE, ONE CAN SENSE THE GRANDEUR OF THE GREAT WALL.

\hNarrator: TODAY, 10 MILLION PEOPLE

VISIT THE GREAT WALL EACH YEAR.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h♪

THEY WALK ACROSS STONES FORMED

\hWITH WHATEVER MATERIAL WAS AVAILABLE IN ANCIENT TIMES,

FROM DIRT TO TWIGS TO RICE.

\hTHE 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.

\h\h\h\h\h\hZhao Hui: THE ENTIRE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT THIS LANDMARK

AND MAKES US AS CHINESE \h\h\hFEEL REALLY PROUD.

SO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, IT IS A REAL HONOR.

♪

Narrator: NORTHERN CHINA IS ALSO HOME

\hTO A STRUCTURE THAT SEEMS TO DEFY GRAVITY.

THIS IS THE HANGING TEMPLE OF HENG SHEN,

BUILT 1500 YEARS AGO.

\hIT’S WEATHERED BOTH TIME AND THE ELEMENTS,

JUST AS ITS BUILDERS INTENDED.

Chang Xue Wen: IN THE PAST,

\h\hTHIS AREA OFTEN EXPERIENCED FLOODS.

PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES.

LEGEND HAS IT THAT THE LOCALS \h\hDECIDED TO BUILD A TEMPLE

TO SEEK BUDDHA’S PROTECTION.

\h\h\hNarrator: THE STRUCTURE HANGS 250 FEET ABOVE A CANYON,

NESTLED BENEATH AN OVERHANG

\hTHAT’S PROTECTED IT FOR CENTURIES.

\hTO BUILD THE TEMPLE, WORKERS RAPPELLED DOWN

AND HAND-CHISELED HORIZONTAL

AND VERTICAL FOUNDATIONS \h\h\hINTO THE MOUNTAIN.

THE PILLARS WERE ADDED LATER \hTO REINFORCE THE STRUCTURE

\h\hAND APPEASE NERVOUS TOURISTS WHO FLOCK HERE.

Chang Xue Wen: OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE

IN ENSURING THE HANGING \hMONASTERY’S LONGEVITY

IS THE HIGH VOLUME OF VISITORS.

TO PROTECT TEMPLE,

WE NEED TO KEEP THESE NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL.

♪

IN 1975, THE ENTIRE WOODEN \hSECTION ABOVE COLLAPSED.

THE CROSSBEAM WAS MOVED,

AND NEW WOOD PIECES WERE \hINSERTED INDIVIDUALLY.

\h\hNarrator: TODAY ONLY 80 VISITORS ARE

ALLOWED IN AT A TIME

\hTO PRESERVE THIS REMARKABLE SIGHT.

♪

IN WESTERN CHINA, ANOTHER \h\h\h\hENGINEERING WONDER

IS MORE UNDERSTATED.

\hTHIS IS TURPAN, HOME OF THE UYGHUR PEOPLE.

IT’S A DRY AND DESOLATE AREA,

SPOTTED WITH ODD-LOOKING MOUNDS.

\h\h\h\hTHOSE BUMPS ARE ACTUALLY WELLS THAT LEAD

TO AN ANCIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM CALLED THE KAREZ.

\h\hBENEATH THE SURFACE, MORE THAN A THOUSAND VERTICAL WELLS

STRETCH DOWN TO CANALS.

USING GRAVITY, THE CANALS CARRY WATER

\h\hFROM THE RAIN-SOAKED MOUNTAINS TO THE DESERT.

THE UNDERGROUND CANALS PREVENT

THE WATER FROM EVAPORATING

\h\h\h\hWHILE THE WELLS GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE WATER.

♪

TODAY, THE SYSTEM NOURISHES AN AREA CALLED GRAPE VALLEY,

\h\h\hONCE AN OASIS FOR WEARY TRAVELERS ALONG THE SILK ROAD.

♪

\h\h\h\hBUT MAINTAINING THE ANCIENT SYSTEM IS DIFFICULT

AND RISKY.

♪

Sadik Eysa: I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 10 YEARS.

THE FIRST TIME IT \hWAS QUITE SCARY,

BUT AFTER A WHILE I GOT USED TO IT.

Narrator: WORKERS REGULARLY \h\h\hDESCEND INTO THE WELLS

\hTO DREDGE OUT SEDIMENT AND STABILIZE THE WALLS.

\h\hSadik Eysa: IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THIS.

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

\h\hIF WE DON’T, THE CANALS WILL DRY UP,

\h\hAND THE VILLAGE WILL NOT HAVE DRINKING WATER.

♪

Narrator: THE CANALS PROVIDE DRINKING WATER TO THOUSANDS,

\hAND IRRIGATE 30 PERCENT OF THE CROPS IN THE REGION

\h\hSOME OF THESE GRAPE FIELDS DATE BACK TO THE 3RD CENTURY.

\hTHE SCALE OF PRODUCTION HERE IS BEST REVEALED FROM THE AIR.

FARMERS USE THESE \hMUD BRICK BLOCKS

TO DEHYDRATE MILLIONS OF GRAPES AND MAKE RAISINS.

IT’S ANOTHER INGENIOUS EXAMPLE

\hOF PEOPLE WORKING WITH MOTHER NATURE.

IN EXTREME SOUTHERN CHINA,

\h\h\h\hLOCALS HAVE TURNED FARMING INTO AN ART FORM.

THESE ARE THE YUANYANG \h\h\h\hRICE TERRACES,

CULTIVATED BY THE LOCAL HANI PEOPLE.

1.4 MILLION HANI LIVE IN THIS PART OF CHINA,

WHERE THERE IS A DEEP \hRESPECT FOR NATURE.

\h\h\hTHEIR ANCESTORS CARVED THESE FIELDS 1300 YEARS AGO.

\hLu 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 \h\hHERE HAVE A SAYING.

THE HIGHER THE MOUNTAINS THE \hHIGHER THE WATER SOURCES.

THE WATER STORED IN FORESTS \hFORMS NATURAL RESERVOIRS.

\hNarrator: THIS WET FARMING ALSO DEPENDS

ON THE MOUNTAIN’S NATURAL ECOSYSTEM.

\h\hFIRST WATER EVAPORATES FROM RIVER VALLEYS BELOW,

\h\hFORMING FOG AND CLOUDS AT THE PEAKS.

NEXT, MOUNTAIN FORESTS \h\h\hTRAP THE CLOUDS.

THEN, RAIN WATER FLOWS BACK \hDOWN 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, \h\hCLOTHING, AND SHELTER.

THE TERRACES ARE THE FOUNDATION

\h\hFROM 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,

\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BEEN NAMED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

THEIR BEAUTY HAS INSPIRED \hGENERATIONS OF ARTISTS,

WHO COME HERE TO CAPTURE THE \hSUNLIGHT AND THE SERENITY.

♪

\h\h1800 MILES NORTH OF THE RICE PADDIES

\h\h\hIS A RUGGED AREA THAT BORDERS MONGOLIA

THIS IS THE HOME TO THE \hKAZAKH EAGLE HUNTERS.

IT’S AN UNFORGIVING CLIMATE.

\hWINTER TEMPERATURES CAN DROP TO 20 BELOW,

BUT AROUND 1.2 MILLION \h\hKAZAKH LIVE HERE,

THANKS IN PART TO \hTHEIR TRADITION

OF TRAINING GOLDEN \hEAGLES TO HUNT.

[EAGLE CHIRPING]

\h\h\hJinsibiek: EAGLE HUNTING IS A TRADITION

OF THE KAZAKH PEOPLE.

IS A CUSTOM PASSED DOWN \h\hFROM OUR ANCESTORS.

IT REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE \h\hRACE OF OUR PEOPLE,

OUR COURAGE, DETERMINATION, \h\hAND 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.

\h\hYOU CAN TELL HOW HEALTHY AN EAGLE IS THROUGH TOUCH AND FEEL.

\h\hTHIS IS THE FIRST THING AN EAGLE TRAINER NEEDS TO LEARN.

YES THAT’S RIGHT.

NOW, RAISE IT UP.

\h\hYES, THAT’S IT, LET THE EAGLE SIT STRAIGHT.

WALK A STEP AHEAD.

\h\hNarrator: MEN CHOOSE AN EAGLE RIGHT AFTER IT’S BORN.

\h\hTRAINERS RAISE THE CHICKS ALONGSIDE THEIR OWN FAMILIES,

\h\h\h\hHAND FEEDING THE ANIMALS TO BUILD A BOND.

\h\hIT 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 \hSUCCESSFUL HUNT.

[EAGLE CHIRPING]

ANOTHER PRISTINE PART OF CHINA \hEXISTS IN THE EXTREME SOUTH,

\hWHERE THREE MIGHTY RIVERS FLOW ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER.

YUNNAN PROVINCE IS HOME

\h\hTO THREE PARALLEL RIVERS NATIONAL PARK.

\h\h\hHERE, THE NU, LANCANG, AND YANGTZE

FLOW NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER,

CREATING OTHERWORLDLY \h\h\h\h\hFORMATIONS.

♪

AMID THESE PEAKS AND VALLEYS \hARE THE LOCAL LISU PEOPLE,

\h\hWHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS.

[WOMAN BIRD CALLING]

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

Grandmother Pu: TODAY IS THE \hDAY OF THE WEEKLY MARKET.

\hIT’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.

\h\hNarrator: BUT IN THIS PART OF CHINA,

A TRIP TO THE MARKET \hIS NO SIMPLE TASK.

TO GET THERE, VILLAGERS CROSS THIS STRETCH OF RAPIDS BY AIR.

[WATER BURBLING]

RATHER THAN BUILDING \h\hA COSTLY BRIDGE,

THE LISU RELY ON ZIP LINES.

THIS GRANDMOTHER HAS BEEN \h\hFLYING OVER THE RIVER

HER ENTIRE LIFE.

\h\h\hTHE 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 \hTHIS CHICKEN FOR 70, OKAY?

\h\h\h\h\hBuyer: 70 YUAN, CAN YOU SELL FOR LESS, 50?

Grandmother Pu: 50, ALRIGHT.

\h\hNarrator: AT THE MARKET, MRS. PU MAKES A QUICK SALE,

AND RETRIEVES HER GRANDSON \h\hFOR A SPECIAL OUTING.

\hIN THIS REMOTE AREA, SHE RELISHES SIMPLE PLEASURES,

BEFORE JOURNEYING \hHOME ONCE AGAIN

OVER THE WINDSWEPT VALLEY.

\hYUNNAN PROVINCE IS ALSO THE SITE OF A HIDDEN SPOT

NAMED "SWALLOW’S CAVE",

\h\hHOME TO BIRDS CALLED "EDIBLE NEST SWIFTLETS".

VISITORS COME TO SEE THE BIRDS

WHICH CREATE NESTS OUT OF THEIR REGURGITATED SALIVA.

♪

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE \hEAT THESE NESTS,

WHICH ARE CONSIDERED A CHINESE DELICACY.

FOR CENTURIES,

\hTHE NESTS HAVE BEEN USED TO MAKE "BIRDS NEST SOUP",

\h\h\hBELIEVED TO HAVE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.

\h\hA POUND OF BIRDS NEST CAN SELL UP TO $1,000 US.

\hIN OTHER PARTS OF ASIA, THE NESTS ARE COMMERCIALLY FARMED,

BUT HERE AT SWALLOWS CAVE,

HARVESTERS USE TRADITIONAL \hMETHODS TO GATHER THEM.

Xu Jian Ming: I HAVE NO CHOICE

\h\h\hTHIS RURAL AREA WHERE I LIVE IS POOR.

SO THAT’S WHY I HAVE \hTO TAKE THIS PATH.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: 39 YEAR OLD XU JIAN MING IS A LONGTIME GATHERER

WHO’S BEEN CLIMBING \h\hFOR TWO DECADES.

NOW, HE’S PASSING ON HIS SKILLS.

Xu Jian Ming: TO DO THIS, \hYOU NEED A GOOD MEMORY.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER \h\h\hTHE EXACT PATH

YOU TAKE TO GET UP AND DOWN,

OR YOU MIGHT BE STUCK UP THERE.

Narrator: LIKE ROCK CLIMBERS,

HARVESTERS USE CREVICES \hFOR FOOT AND HANDHOLDS

TO WORK THEIR WAY UP,

BUT THEY DON’T USE \hSAFETY EQUIPMENT

\hDESPITE 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 \h\h\h\hWHEN YOU’RE UP THERE.

\h\h\hNarrator: BIRDS NEST IS BOTH PRIZED AND PRICEY,

\hBUT FOR THE CLIMBERS, PROFITS ARE UNRELIABLE.

Xu Jian Ming: BACK IN 1999

THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS \h\h\h\hWERE DIFFERENT.

WE COULD SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES

BY MAKING $1,000 US A YEAR.

TODAY, THAT AMOUNT \h\hIS NOT ENOUGH.

Narrator: XU EARNS MORE

BY SHOWING OFF HIS CLIMBING \h\h\h\hSKILLS FOR TOURISTS

HE’S A VETERAN NOW, BUT \hXU SAYS ON A GOOD DAY,

HE STILL FEELS LIKE A KID AGAIN

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

\hXu Jian Ming: I HAVE BEEN CLIMBING FOR OVER 20 YEARS,

BUT IT CAN STILL FEEL FRESH.

\h\h\hWHEN YOU FIND A PLACE BRIMMING WITH BIRD’S NESTS,

THERE IS A SORT OF EXCITEMENT.

♪

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN THE FAR REACHES OF NORTHWESTERN CHINA

IS ZHAOSU COUNTY,

ONCE HOME TO WILD HORSES.

THIS PART OF CHINA IS REMOTE AND EXPANSIVE.

\h\hPLAINS HERE STRETCH FOR 4,000 SQUARE MILES.

THIS IS ALSO HOME TO \hTHE KAZAKH PEOPLE,

WHO HAVE BEEN TAMING WILD \h\hHORSES FOR 5500 YEARS.

[HOOVES POUNDING] \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h♪

\h\h\hTuoliewu: WE KAZAKHS LEAD A RURAL NOMADIC LIFE.

THIS LIFESTYLE REQUIRES US TO HAVE GOOD HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS

FROM AN EARLY AGE.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE KAZAKH WERE ONCE KNOWN

\h\hFOR BREEDING SOME OF ASIA’S BEST WAR HORSES.

TODAY THEIR FOCUS \hIS RACE HORSES,

COMPETING IN THE ANNUAL HEAVENLY HORSE FESTIVAL.

\h\h\hTHIS YEAR, THE HORSE BREEDERS’ SON

WILL BE RACING FOR \hTHE FIRST TIME.

\h\h\h\hAiniwaer: 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

\h\hIS THAT MY SON COMES BACK SAFELY.

WINNING IS NOT EVERYTHING.

♪

\h\h\h\hNarrator: ON THE FIRST DAY ALONE

THE RIDERS COVERED 50 MILES.

NOW ON DAY THREE, THEY MUST RIDE ANOTHER 62.

FOR FATHER AND SON, THIS \h\hIS MORE THAN A RACE.

\hIT’S A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE A HORSE THEY GROOMED FOR YEARS.

ULTIMATELY AINIWAER DOESN’T WIN,

BUT HE’S ALREADY LOOKING \h\hAHEAD TO NEXT YEAR.

♪

ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN \hTHE FRIGID NORTHEAST

IS A CITY STEEPED IN ICE.

\h\hTHIS IS HARBIN, HOME TO MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE

WHO ENDURE TEMPERATURES \h\h\h\h\h\hOF 38 BELOW.

\hTHE SUB ZERO CONDITIONS FREEZE THE SONGHUA RIVER,

\h\hWHERE TODAY WORKERS HAUL OUT 555 POUND BLOCKS OF ICE.

THE BLOCKS ARE BEING USED TO \hCREATE A WINTER WONDERLAND

CALLED THE HARBIN ICE \h\hAND SNOW FESTIVAL.

THE FESTIVAL BEGAN IN 1985, BUT IS BASED ON A TRADITION

\h\h\h\hIN WHICH FISHERMAN CARVED LANTERNS FROM ICE.

\h\h\h\h\hNOW, ARTISTS TAKE ON CARVINGS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.

\h\h\hLiu Heng Fu: WE SHOULD EMBRACE THIS UNIQUE CLIMATE

THAT GOD HAS BLESSED UPON US,

\h\h\hAND OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE WORLD, DESPITE THE COLD WEATHER.

Narrator: THIS EVENT IS NOW

THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD,

\h\h\hBUT EVERY YEAR BRINGS NEW PROBLEMS.

Wang Zeng Yu: THE WEATHER IS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

WE ARE ON TIGHT DEADLINES.

\hALL THE ICE IS SOURCED FROM THE SONGHUA RIVER.

IF THE ICE IS NOT THICK ENOUGH,

\h\h\hWE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HARVEST IT,

AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DELAYED

\h\h\h\h\hLUCKILY, THE WEATHER CONDITION THIS YEAR ARE GOOD.

[DRUMS BEATING]

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE WEATHER HERE IS SO COLD,

THE SCULPTURES CAN LAST FOR A MONTH.

\hARTISTS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO PARTICIPATE.

Wang Zeng Yu: EVERY SCULPTURE \h\hIS JUST LIKE MY OWN CHILD.

I WATCH THEM GROW UP EVERY DAY.

IT’S NOT JUST A JOB.

WE ARE EMOTIONALLY DEVOTED \h\hTO TRANSFORM THIS PARK

INTO A MAGNIFICENT PIECE OF ART,

\h\hAND PRESENT THIS TO INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.

\hNarrator: 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 \hBUILT ON THE TRADITIONS

AND INNOVATIONS OF THE PAST.

THIS IS A NATION OF INVENTION

AND REINVENTION.

IT’S A LAND RICH WITH \h\hNATURAL TREASURES,

ALONG WITH NATURAL RESOURCES.

CHINA IS A PLACE OF DIVERSITY

WHERE ANCIENT CUSTOMS SURVIVE,

AND EVEN THRIVE.

THIS COUNTRY, FULL OF SURPRISES

\hCONTINUES TO EMERGE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.