China from Above (2015–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - Dynamic Coast - full transcript
Narrator: CHINA,
IT'S A COUNTRY STEEPED
IN TRADITION AND HURTLING
FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
IN THIS AERIAL
JOURNEY, WE'LL SEE
THE SPRAWLING NATION
FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
PIONEERS BRAVE THE UNKNOWN
AND MONUMENTS TO THE
SPIRIT STILL STAND.
HERE THE LANDSCAPES ARE
AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE.
WHERE CITIES FEATURE
MAGNIFICENT SKYLINES
AND INDUSTRIES HAVE TRANSFORMED
THE COUNTRY INTO A
GLOBAL LEADER.
AFTER CENTURIES IN SECLUSION,
CREATIVITY THRIVES.
IN A GENERATION, CHINA HAS
SPRUNG FROM ITS ANCIENT PAST,
INSPIRED BY BOLD IDEAS
AND RISEN TO NEW HEIGHTS.
IT'S BLENDED INNOVATION
WITH TRADITION,
TAKING 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
BAY IN THE NORTH,
TO HAINAN ISLAND IN
THE FAR TROPICAL SOUTH.
THE EASTERN
PROVINCES HAVE BECOME
THE PRODUCT OF CHINA'S
DRAMATIC URBANIZATION,
ATTRACTING MILLIONS
OF 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,
AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS,
UNTHINKABLE A FEW DECADES AGO.
AT THE HEART OF CHINA'S
RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION
ARE BILLION-DOLLAR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
CONNECTING CITIES AND REGIONS
WITH EXTENSIVE ROAD
AND RAIL NETWORKS.
ON THE SOUTHEAST COAST IS
ONE OF CHINA'S MOST AMBITIOUS
ENGINEERING PROJECTS, THE
LONGEST SEA BRIDGE ON EARTH.
IT CONNECTS THREE MAJOR
CITIES ACROSS THE VAST
31 MILE PEARL DELTA,
A SEA INLET BATTERED
BY TYPHOONS,
AND HOME TO ONE OF THE
BUSIEST PORTS IN THE WORLD.
HONG KONG, MACAU,
AND ZHUHAI, ARE NOW
CONNECTED TO CHINA'S
MANUFACTURING HEARTLAND,
GUANGDONG, HOME TO
100 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE BRIDGE CONTAINS ENOUGH
STEEL TO BUILD 60 EIFFEL TOWERS,
ENOUGH CONCRETE TO FILL 400
OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOLS,
AND IS NOW NEAR COMPLETION,
DUE TO OPEN TO ROAD TRAFFIC.
SURVEYORS LI SHULIANG
AND XIONG JINHAI
ARE HELPING TO OVERSEE
THE COMPLETION.
Narrator: THIS 24 MILE
LONG TRIPLE SPAN STRUCTURE,
20 TIMES LONGER THAN THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HAS TO BE
STRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE A
HIT FROM A 300,000 TON VESSEL,
A MAGNITUDE EIGHT
EARTHQUAKE, OR TYPHOON.
Narrator: THIS IS
CHINA'S FIRST MAJOR
COMBINED BRIDGE AND TUNNEL
SEA-CROSSING PROJECT.
SMALLER SHIPS CAN SAIL
UNDER BUT TO ALLOW
GIANT CONTAINER SHIPS PASSAGE
TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA,
THE ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH
AN IMAGINATIVE SOLUTION,
AN UNDERWATER ROAD
TRAFFIC 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
18 STORY STEEL CYLINDERS.
IN-BETWEEN IS A FOUR MILE
TUNNEL COMPRISED OF 33
GIANT TUBES CONNECTED
TOGETHER ON THE SEA FLOOR.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
HOPES THAT THIS BRIDGE
WILL DRAW TOGETHER
NINE SOUTHERN CITIES
INTO 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
INDUSTRIALIZATION.
IN THE NORTH-EASTERN
PROVINCE OF JILIN
LIES CHAGAN LAKE, WHERE
SOME ANCIENT METHODS
OF PRODUCTION ARE SO EFFECTIVE
THEY REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE FRESHWATER LAKE
IS 200 SQUARE MILES,
THE LARGEST IN THE PROVINCE.
HERE, WINTER'S DEEP FREEZE MAKES
AGRICULTURE AND FISHING
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
TEMPERATURES GET AS LOW AS
MINUS 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
TURNING RIVERS AND LAKES
INTO FROZEN WILDERNESS.
BUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE HERE
ARE STILL ABLE TO CATCH
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FISH
IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER.
BY USING A THOUSAND YEAR
OLD ETHNIC MONGOLIAN
TECHNIQUE, THEY ARE ABLE
TO CATCH THE FISH ON
AN 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
OF HOLES THEY CAN
FEED THE NET THROUGH.
Narrator: THEY STILL
USE HORSE POWER TO TURN
A WOODEN WINCH, GRADUALLY
HAULING THE NET INTO PLACE.
Narrator: IN PAST YEARS,
THEY HAVE CAUGHT OVER
175 TONS OF FISH FROM BELOW
THE ICE IN THE WINTER SEASON.
AND EACH YEAR THEY
HOPE TO DO BETTER.
AS DUSK APPROACHES, THE
SPINDLE MAKES ITS FINAL TURN
AND THE NET IS DRAWN BACK
UP THROUGH AN ICE HOLE.
IT'S BRIMMING WITH CARP AND
OTHER FRESHWATER SPECIES.
Narrator: THE FISHERMEN
WILL 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
THE ELEMENTS.
CHINA NOW HAS
HIGHER POWER DEMANDS
THAN ANY OTHER NATION ON EARTH.
AND MORE AND MORE OF
ITS ENERGY IS COMING
FROM AN INFINITE COASTAL
RESOURCE, WIND POWER.
CHINA'S COASTAL WATERS HAVE SOME
OF THE HIGHEST AVERAGE
WIND SPEEDS IN THE WORLD.
JUST NORTH OF SHANGHAI
IS CHINA'S LARGEST
OFFSHORE WIND FARM, RUDONG.
IT HAS ALMOST 100
TURBINES OPERATING
IN SHALLOW WATER, JUST
FIVE MILES FROM THE SHORE
WITH 16 MORE TURBINES
READY FOR INSTALLATION.
THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH
BARGES TRANSPORTING
INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS
TO SEABED LOCATIONS.
20 SPECIALLY ADAPTED
VESSELS ARE USED IN
THE OPERATION, WHEN THE
TIDE AND WEATHER ALLOW.
THE FIRST PHASE IS
TO PLACE PILLARS ONTO
A FOUNDATION PLATFORM
THAT SITS ON THE SEABED,
ONLY 16 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 241
TON, 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
IS USHERED INTO PLACE
WITH THE HELP OF THE ENGINEERS
INSIDE THE PILLAR ITSELF.
THE 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.
BY DAWN, IT'S TIME
FOR THE FINAL STAGE,
ATTACHING THE 26 TON BLADES
TO A 150 TON WHEEL HUB.
DESPITE ALL THE COMPUTER-AIDED
TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN GUIDANCE
IS STILL CRUCIAL IN
JOINING THESE COMPONENTS.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK,
THE TURBINE IS COMPLETE.
NOW THE CREW WILL MOVE
ON TO A NEW INSTALLATION
AND THE PROCESS
STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
AS CHINA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES
TO GROW, SO DOES ITS
URBAN POPULATIONS, WITH
MANY PEOPLE LEAVING BEHIND
RURAL 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.
SHENGSHAN 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
LIFE 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,
STUMBLED UPON THIS
CHINESE GARDEN OF EDEN.
Narrator: ZHOU JIE
IS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER.
Narrator: HER PHOTOGRAPHS
WENT VIRAL, SHOWING HOW QUICKLY
HUMAN ECOSYSTEMS CAN BE
RECLAIMED BY THE NATURAL WORLD.
CROWDS FROM SHANGHAI
NOW MAKE THE JOURNEY
TO EXPERIENCE THIS
VILLAGE'S RETURN TO NATURE.
Narrator: ENCOURAGED BY
THIS TOURISM, SOME FORMER
RESIDENTS HAVE NOW RETURNED
AND CREATED A NEW OPPORTUNITY.
Narrator: THIS FAMILY
WAS AMONG THE LAST
VILLAGERS TO LEAVE AND
RECENTLY RETURNED TO START
A SMALL RESTAURANT FOR VISITORS.
Narrator: FOR THE
BUSY HOSPITAL DOCTOR,
PHOTOGRAPHY HAS
ALWAYS BEEN AN ESCAPE.
Narrator: YET DESPITE MASS
MIGRATIONS TO THE CITIES,
IT'S NOT A ONE-WAY ROAD
FROM RURAL TO URBAN CHINA.
HAINAN PROVINCE OFF
THE SOUTHERN COAST
IS A TROPICAL ISLAND
WITH A FIERY PAST.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE ISLAND'S
HAIKOU VOLCANO CLUSTERS,
LOCAL YONGXING FARMERS
HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
THE ROCKY VOLCANIC
SOIL FOR GENERATIONS.
THE ONLY THING THAT GREW
HERE WAS THE LYCHEE FRUIT.
AND MAKING A LIVING
WAS DIFFICULT.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
CHEN TONGKUI'S FAMILY
FARMED LYCHEE HERE
FOR GENERATIONS WHICH THEY
SOLD CHEAPLY TO LOCAL MARKETS.
AFTER 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.
Narrator: AND TONGKUI'S
BROTHER WAS ON HAND TO HELP.
Narrator: FIRST, HE UPGRADED
THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
Narrator: THE
MARKETING PAID OFF.
THE LYCHEES SOLD AT
THREE TIMES THE PRICE
IN SHANGHAI, TRANSFORMING
THE VILLAGERS' FORTUNES.
MANY LEFT BEHIND
THEIR BASIC HOUSING,
CONSTRUCTED FROM VOLCANIC
ROCK, FOR NEW HOMES.
NOW TONGKUI HAS A NEW
VENTURE, TO GROW SOMETHING
NEVER TRIED IN THEIR VOLCANIC
FIELDS, DRAGON FRUIT.
Narrator: HIS BROTHER
SPENT A YEAR CONSTRUCTING
TRELLIS WALLS FROM
THE OLD VOLCANIC ROCK.
Narrator: HAINAN'S
VOLCANOES HAVEN'T
ERUPTED FOR 84 YEARS.
BUT ONE COASTAL INLET IS HOME
TO ANOTHER ONE OF NATURE'S
MOST IMPRESSIVE, AND
DESTRUCTIVE, PHENOMENA.
HANGZHOU BAY, AN INLET
OF THE EAST CHINA SEA,
IS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE
WORLD'S LARGEST TIDAL BORES.
THIS TIDAL PHENOMENON
OCCURS WHEN THE LEADING EDGE
OF THE INCOMING TIDE FORMS
A 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,
WHEN THE GRAVITATIONAL
FORCES OF THE MOON,
SUN, AND EARTH COMBINE.
SOME YEARS THE TIDE
REACHES 30 FEET HIGH.
IT HAS CAUSED DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION
IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY
DURING TYPHOONS.
BARRIERS NOW HELP
PROTECT THE PUBLIC
DURING THE BORE
WATCHING FESTIVAL.
XING YUN IS A QIANTANG
RIVER HYDROLOGIST.
Narrator: THE BORE
IS CAUSED BY THE STRONG
AUTUMNAL INCOMING TIDE
BEING FUNNELED FROM
THE WIDE BAY INTO THE NARROW
NECK OF THE QIANTANG RIVER.
THE OUT FLOWING RIVER
CURRENT THEN PUSHES UP
THE BIGGER INCOMING WAVE
CREATING THE POWERFUL BORE.
A WALL OF WATER THAT RUNS
DOWN THE RIVER FOR 60 MILES
ATTRACTS SOME OF THE BEST BIG
WAVE SURFERS ON THE PLANET.
- 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
AND 40 MINUTES.
YOU GET 20 GOES OF IT.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Narrator: TODAY
IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY,
THE TIDE-WATCHING FESTIVAL.
IT ATTRACTS UP 170,000 PEOPLE.
SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO KEEPING
AN ELECTRONIC EYE ON
THE BORE FROM MULTIPLE CAMERAS
INSTALLED ALONG THE ROUTE.
Narrator: YUN IS GOING TO
GET MUCH CLOSER AND TAKE A
SAMPLE OF THE SEDIMENTS JUST
AFTER THE BORE PASSES THROUGH.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Narrator: THE ROAR
OF THE TIDE ALERTS
THE THOUSANDS GATHERED
TO WATCH THE GIANT
WALL OF WATER
COLLIDE WITH A DAM.
WHEN IT BOUNCES BACK FROM
THE WALL, A CHAIN OF CHINESE
LANTERNS TRADITIONALLY ACT AS
THE BORE'S HEIGHT YARDSTICK.
Narrator: THE SCIENTISTS
HOPE THAT THEIR DATA
WILL HELP THEM TO PREDICT
WHICH YEARS THE BORE
COULD BE AT ITS
MOST DESTRUCTIVE.
UP THE COAST, MORE BENIGN
TIDAL FORCES HELPED
CREATE AN INDUSTRY THAT
WAS THE ENVY OF THE WEST
FOR CENTURIES, AND IS
STILL CRITICAL TO THIS DAY.
IN A LANDSCAPE AS LARGE AND
DIVERSE AS CHINA'S, THE NATURAL
PROCESSES OF WEATHERING CAN
BRING GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
CHINA'S SALT LAKES AND
COASTAL SALT FARMS ARE
A RESOURCE THAT HAS LONG BEEN
THE 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
PROPERTIES, SULFATE SALT
ALSO COMBINES WITH ALGAE
TO PRODUCE VIVID COLORS.
ON THE COAST, SEA SALT FARMS
AREN'T QUITE AS COLORFUL,
BUT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT
NATURAL RESOURCE FOR CHINA,
THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER
AND CONSUMER OF SALT.
BOHAI BAY, ON THE
NORTHEAST COAST.
HERE, THE ANCIENT
PRACTICE OF SALT FARMING
HAS BEEN UPDATED
FOR MODERN TIMES.
CHANGLU TANGGU SALT
WORKS, WHICH DATES BACK
OVER 1000 YEARS, IS THE
LARGEST PRODUCER IN CHINA.
Narrator: WANG HONGQING
IS PART OF A NEW GENERATION
WHO BRINGS MODERN SKILLS
TO AN ANCIENT PRACTICE.
Narrator: SALT
USED TO BE HARVESTED
ONCE A YEAR, IN AUTUMN.
Narrator: THE HIGH SALT
LEVELS OF THE NORTHEASTERN
COASTLINE PRODUCE A
STUNNING VISUAL PHENOMENON
IN SEPTEMBER, THE RED
BEACHES OF PANJIN.
IT'S NOT THE SALT
THAT TURNS RED,
BUT A FLOWERING PLANT,
CALLED A SEEP WEED.
IT THRIVES ON THE
HIGH CONCENTRATION
OF SALTY WATER IN THE BAY.
PART OF THE SHUANGTAI ESTUARY
NATIONAL RESERVE, IT'S ALSO
THE MOST EXTENSIVE BIRD
SANCTUARY IN ALL OF CHINA.
THE BRACKISH MUDFLATS
ATTRACT ONE OF ASIA'S MOST
ENDANGERED AND
ICONIC BIRD SPECIES,
THE FIVE FOOT TALL
RED-CROWNED CRANE.
A TEAM OF CHINESE
CONSERVATIONISTS
ARE TRYING TO HALT
THEIR DECLINE.
ZHAO SHIWEI IS REARING
CRANES FROM EGGS
TO RELEASE BACK TO THE WILD.
Narrator: SHIWEI
TENDS SEVERAL FLOCKS
AT DIFFERENT STAGES
OF DEVELOPMENT.
Narrator: THE
YOUNGEST FLOCK, AT NEARLY
THREE MONTHS, IS ON
THE THRESHOLD OF THEIR
MOST IMPORTANT STAGE,
LEARNING TO FLY.
AFTER FEEDING, SHIWEI
RELEASES THEM TO PRACTICE.
Narrator: SOME
CRANES CAN ACHIEVE
SPECTACULAR FEATS OF FLIGHT,
MIGRATING NEARLY 10,000 MILES
AND REACHING HEIGHTS
OVER 5,000 FEET.
A MORE MATURE FLOCK CAN
FLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
UNLIKE MANY OTHER BIRDS,
THESE CRANES ARE BORN WITHOUT
THE INSTINCT TO MIGRATE AND
WILL RETURN TO THEIR PENS.
BUT 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
TO THE AIR AND MIGRATED
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
OVER A MILLENNIUM AGO.
WEIFANG IS OFTEN CALLED
THE WORLD CAPITAL OF KITES.
IT IS LOCATED ON THE WINDSWEPT
NORTHEASTERN
PROVINCE OF SHANDONG.
NINE MILLION PEOPLE LIVE HERE.
BUT IT'S BEST KNOWN FOR ITS
KITE DISTRICT, YANGJIAPU.
AMONG THE 87 KITE FACTORIES
HERE IS WANG YONGXUN'S.
HE HAS HAD A PASSION FOR
KITES SINCE HE CAN REMEMBER.
Narrator: WHAT
STARTED AS A HOBBY
HAS DEVELOPED INTO
A THRIVING BUSINESS.
Narrator: THEY PRODUCE
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT
STYLES FOR MARKETS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
NEARLY 100 PEOPLE ARE
IN 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.
IT ATTRACTS 40 TEAMS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THE EVENT ALSO COMBINES THE
13TH WORLD KITE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHERE MANY COME TO UNVEIL THEIR
MOST CREATIVE KITE DESIGNS.
AFTER THE OPENING
CEREMONY, THE COMPETITORS
LAUNCH THEIR
CUTTING-EDGE CREATIONS.
YONGXUN HAS SEVERAL KITES
IN COMPETITION THIS YEAR,
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO FLY
HIS SHOWPIECE DESIGN,
A GIANT OCTOPUS.
IT TAKES A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE TO HOLD IT DOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST FLYING
ABILITY THAT'S JUDGED.
OVERALL DESIGN AND
INNOVATION ARE CRUCIAL
FACTORS IN WINNING
THE COMPETITION.
Narrator: 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.
A HOME GROWN
INVENTION THAT SPREAD,
LIKE A LOT OF CHINESE
INNOVATIONS AND PASTIMES,
ALONG THE SILK ROAD
TO REST OF THE WORLD.
A SHORT DISTANCE FROM
WEIFANG LIES A PLACE THAT
TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE
WIND THAT SHAPES THIS REGION.
QINGDAO IS CHINA'S
COMPETITIVE SAILING CAPITAL.
AFTER HOSTING THE
OLYMPICS IN 2008,
IT'S NOW A VENUE FOR MANY
OTHER SAILING EVENTS,
INCLUDING ONE SECOND ONLY
TO THE AMERICA'S CUP.
Narrator: EVERY YEAR,
TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
MEET HERE FOR A LEG
OF THE EXTREME SAILING SERIES,
THE GRAND PRIX OF SAILING.
THIS YEAR PROFESSIONAL
LOCAL SAILOR LIU XIE
IS COMPETING IN THE EXTREME
SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UNLIKE MANY OTHER SAILING
RACES, 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
FOILED CATAMARANS
ARE SHIPPED TO EACH
GRAND PRIX EVENT.
THIS YEAR, 24 YEAR OLD LIU
HAS AN EXTRA CHALLENGE,
HE'S PART OF A WILD CARD TEAM.
Narrator: LIU IS
ALSO HOPING TO INSPIRE
THE NEXT GENERATION
OF CHINESE SAILORS WHO
ARE HOLDING THEIR
OWN SMALL REGATTA.
Narrator: 15
YEAR OLD NIU QINGHUA
IS ONE OF CHINA'S UP AND
COMING SAILING HOPEFULS.
Narrator: IT'S THE
FINAL RACE OF THE DAY.
BEING ON BOARD AN
EXTREME SAILING VESSEL
TAKES SKILL, MUSCLE,
AND DETERMINATION.
IT'S A WORKOUT.
THESE BOATS CAN REACH SPEEDS
OF UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR.
Narrator: CAPSIZING
IS ALWAYS A DANGER
AS THE SAILORS PUSH
THEMSELVES TO THE LIMIT.
IT SOON BECOMES A BATTLE
BETWEEN THREE TEAMS,
THE LEAD CHANGING SEVERAL TIMES.
LIU'S TEAM STRUGGLES AT
THE BACK OF THE FLEET.
AND EVEN THOUGH
THE WILD CARD TEAM
FINISHES LAST, LIU
IS PHILOSOPHICAL.
Narrator: IN ONE
SHORT GENERATION,
CHINA HAS CHANGED FASTER
THAN ANY NATION IN HISTORY,
THROUGH MAJOR ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
THAT HAVE HELPED GROW
ITS ECONOMY AND SECURE
THE COUNTRY'S STATUS
AS A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE.
CHINA IS BROADENING
ITS OUTLOOK, TOO,
FROM CONSERVATION AND
CELEBRATION OF OLD PASTIMES,
TO EMBRACING NEW SPORTS
AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES,
ALL WHILE RACING TO
ADAPT TO THE 21ST
CENTURY CHALLENGES
THAT LIE AHEAD.
IT'S A COUNTRY STEEPED
IN TRADITION AND HURTLING
FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
IN THIS AERIAL
JOURNEY, WE'LL SEE
THE SPRAWLING NATION
FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
PIONEERS BRAVE THE UNKNOWN
AND MONUMENTS TO THE
SPIRIT STILL STAND.
HERE THE LANDSCAPES ARE
AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE.
WHERE CITIES FEATURE
MAGNIFICENT SKYLINES
AND INDUSTRIES HAVE TRANSFORMED
THE COUNTRY INTO A
GLOBAL LEADER.
AFTER CENTURIES IN SECLUSION,
CREATIVITY THRIVES.
IN A GENERATION, CHINA HAS
SPRUNG FROM ITS ANCIENT PAST,
INSPIRED BY BOLD IDEAS
AND RISEN TO NEW HEIGHTS.
IT'S BLENDED INNOVATION
WITH TRADITION,
TAKING 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
BAY IN THE NORTH,
TO HAINAN ISLAND IN
THE FAR TROPICAL SOUTH.
THE EASTERN
PROVINCES HAVE BECOME
THE PRODUCT OF CHINA'S
DRAMATIC URBANIZATION,
ATTRACTING MILLIONS
OF 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,
AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS,
UNTHINKABLE A FEW DECADES AGO.
AT THE HEART OF CHINA'S
RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION
ARE BILLION-DOLLAR
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
CONNECTING CITIES AND REGIONS
WITH EXTENSIVE ROAD
AND RAIL NETWORKS.
ON THE SOUTHEAST COAST IS
ONE OF CHINA'S MOST AMBITIOUS
ENGINEERING PROJECTS, THE
LONGEST SEA BRIDGE ON EARTH.
IT CONNECTS THREE MAJOR
CITIES ACROSS THE VAST
31 MILE PEARL DELTA,
A SEA INLET BATTERED
BY TYPHOONS,
AND HOME TO ONE OF THE
BUSIEST PORTS IN THE WORLD.
HONG KONG, MACAU,
AND ZHUHAI, ARE NOW
CONNECTED TO CHINA'S
MANUFACTURING HEARTLAND,
GUANGDONG, HOME TO
100 MILLION PEOPLE.
THE BRIDGE CONTAINS ENOUGH
STEEL TO BUILD 60 EIFFEL TOWERS,
ENOUGH CONCRETE TO FILL 400
OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING POOLS,
AND IS NOW NEAR COMPLETION,
DUE TO OPEN TO ROAD TRAFFIC.
SURVEYORS LI SHULIANG
AND XIONG JINHAI
ARE HELPING TO OVERSEE
THE COMPLETION.
Narrator: THIS 24 MILE
LONG TRIPLE SPAN STRUCTURE,
20 TIMES LONGER THAN THE
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, HAS TO BE
STRONG ENOUGH TO SURVIVE A
HIT FROM A 300,000 TON VESSEL,
A MAGNITUDE EIGHT
EARTHQUAKE, OR TYPHOON.
Narrator: THIS IS
CHINA'S FIRST MAJOR
COMBINED BRIDGE AND TUNNEL
SEA-CROSSING PROJECT.
SMALLER SHIPS CAN SAIL
UNDER BUT TO ALLOW
GIANT CONTAINER SHIPS PASSAGE
TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA,
THE ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH
AN IMAGINATIVE SOLUTION,
AN UNDERWATER ROAD
TRAFFIC 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
18 STORY STEEL CYLINDERS.
IN-BETWEEN IS A FOUR MILE
TUNNEL COMPRISED OF 33
GIANT TUBES CONNECTED
TOGETHER ON THE SEA FLOOR.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
HOPES THAT THIS BRIDGE
WILL DRAW TOGETHER
NINE SOUTHERN CITIES
INTO 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
INDUSTRIALIZATION.
IN THE NORTH-EASTERN
PROVINCE OF JILIN
LIES CHAGAN LAKE, WHERE
SOME ANCIENT METHODS
OF PRODUCTION ARE SO EFFECTIVE
THEY REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE FRESHWATER LAKE
IS 200 SQUARE MILES,
THE LARGEST IN THE PROVINCE.
HERE, WINTER'S DEEP FREEZE MAKES
AGRICULTURE AND FISHING
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
TEMPERATURES GET AS LOW AS
MINUS 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
TURNING RIVERS AND LAKES
INTO FROZEN WILDERNESS.
BUT THE LOCAL PEOPLE HERE
ARE STILL ABLE TO CATCH
THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FISH
IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER.
BY USING A THOUSAND YEAR
OLD ETHNIC MONGOLIAN
TECHNIQUE, THEY ARE ABLE
TO CATCH THE FISH ON
AN 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
OF HOLES THEY CAN
FEED THE NET THROUGH.
Narrator: THEY STILL
USE HORSE POWER TO TURN
A WOODEN WINCH, GRADUALLY
HAULING THE NET INTO PLACE.
Narrator: IN PAST YEARS,
THEY HAVE CAUGHT OVER
175 TONS OF FISH FROM BELOW
THE ICE IN THE WINTER SEASON.
AND EACH YEAR THEY
HOPE TO DO BETTER.
AS DUSK APPROACHES, THE
SPINDLE MAKES ITS FINAL TURN
AND THE NET IS DRAWN BACK
UP THROUGH AN ICE HOLE.
IT'S BRIMMING WITH CARP AND
OTHER FRESHWATER SPECIES.
Narrator: THE FISHERMEN
WILL 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
THE ELEMENTS.
CHINA NOW HAS
HIGHER POWER DEMANDS
THAN ANY OTHER NATION ON EARTH.
AND MORE AND MORE OF
ITS ENERGY IS COMING
FROM AN INFINITE COASTAL
RESOURCE, WIND POWER.
CHINA'S COASTAL WATERS HAVE SOME
OF THE HIGHEST AVERAGE
WIND SPEEDS IN THE WORLD.
JUST NORTH OF SHANGHAI
IS CHINA'S LARGEST
OFFSHORE WIND FARM, RUDONG.
IT HAS ALMOST 100
TURBINES OPERATING
IN SHALLOW WATER, JUST
FIVE MILES FROM THE SHORE
WITH 16 MORE TURBINES
READY FOR INSTALLATION.
THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH
BARGES TRANSPORTING
INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS
TO SEABED LOCATIONS.
20 SPECIALLY ADAPTED
VESSELS ARE USED IN
THE OPERATION, WHEN THE
TIDE AND WEATHER ALLOW.
THE FIRST PHASE IS
TO PLACE PILLARS ONTO
A FOUNDATION PLATFORM
THAT SITS ON THE SEABED,
ONLY 16 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 241
TON, 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
IS USHERED INTO PLACE
WITH THE HELP OF THE ENGINEERS
INSIDE THE PILLAR ITSELF.
THE 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.
BY DAWN, IT'S TIME
FOR THE FINAL STAGE,
ATTACHING THE 26 TON BLADES
TO A 150 TON WHEEL HUB.
DESPITE ALL THE COMPUTER-AIDED
TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN GUIDANCE
IS STILL CRUCIAL IN
JOINING THESE COMPONENTS.
AFTER THREE DAYS OF
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK,
THE TURBINE IS COMPLETE.
NOW THE CREW WILL MOVE
ON TO A NEW INSTALLATION
AND THE PROCESS
STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.
AS CHINA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES
TO GROW, SO DOES ITS
URBAN POPULATIONS, WITH
MANY PEOPLE LEAVING BEHIND
RURAL 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.
SHENGSHAN 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
LIFE 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,
STUMBLED UPON THIS
CHINESE GARDEN OF EDEN.
Narrator: ZHOU JIE
IS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER.
Narrator: HER PHOTOGRAPHS
WENT VIRAL, SHOWING HOW QUICKLY
HUMAN ECOSYSTEMS CAN BE
RECLAIMED BY THE NATURAL WORLD.
CROWDS FROM SHANGHAI
NOW MAKE THE JOURNEY
TO EXPERIENCE THIS
VILLAGE'S RETURN TO NATURE.
Narrator: ENCOURAGED BY
THIS TOURISM, SOME FORMER
RESIDENTS HAVE NOW RETURNED
AND CREATED A NEW OPPORTUNITY.
Narrator: THIS FAMILY
WAS AMONG THE LAST
VILLAGERS TO LEAVE AND
RECENTLY RETURNED TO START
A SMALL RESTAURANT FOR VISITORS.
Narrator: FOR THE
BUSY HOSPITAL DOCTOR,
PHOTOGRAPHY HAS
ALWAYS BEEN AN ESCAPE.
Narrator: YET DESPITE MASS
MIGRATIONS TO THE CITIES,
IT'S NOT A ONE-WAY ROAD
FROM RURAL TO URBAN CHINA.
HAINAN PROVINCE OFF
THE SOUTHERN COAST
IS A TROPICAL ISLAND
WITH A FIERY PAST.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE ISLAND'S
HAIKOU VOLCANO CLUSTERS,
LOCAL YONGXING FARMERS
HAVE STRUGGLED WITH
THE ROCKY VOLCANIC
SOIL FOR GENERATIONS.
THE ONLY THING THAT GREW
HERE WAS THE LYCHEE FRUIT.
AND MAKING A LIVING
WAS DIFFICULT.
(GENTLE MUSIC)
CHEN TONGKUI'S FAMILY
FARMED LYCHEE HERE
FOR GENERATIONS WHICH THEY
SOLD CHEAPLY TO LOCAL MARKETS.
AFTER 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.
Narrator: AND TONGKUI'S
BROTHER WAS ON HAND TO HELP.
Narrator: FIRST, HE UPGRADED
THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
Narrator: THE
MARKETING PAID OFF.
THE LYCHEES SOLD AT
THREE TIMES THE PRICE
IN SHANGHAI, TRANSFORMING
THE VILLAGERS' FORTUNES.
MANY LEFT BEHIND
THEIR BASIC HOUSING,
CONSTRUCTED FROM VOLCANIC
ROCK, FOR NEW HOMES.
NOW TONGKUI HAS A NEW
VENTURE, TO GROW SOMETHING
NEVER TRIED IN THEIR VOLCANIC
FIELDS, DRAGON FRUIT.
Narrator: HIS BROTHER
SPENT A YEAR CONSTRUCTING
TRELLIS WALLS FROM
THE OLD VOLCANIC ROCK.
Narrator: HAINAN'S
VOLCANOES HAVEN'T
ERUPTED FOR 84 YEARS.
BUT ONE COASTAL INLET IS HOME
TO ANOTHER ONE OF NATURE'S
MOST IMPRESSIVE, AND
DESTRUCTIVE, PHENOMENA.
HANGZHOU BAY, AN INLET
OF THE EAST CHINA SEA,
IS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE
WORLD'S LARGEST TIDAL BORES.
THIS TIDAL PHENOMENON
OCCURS WHEN THE LEADING EDGE
OF THE INCOMING TIDE FORMS
A 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,
WHEN THE GRAVITATIONAL
FORCES OF THE MOON,
SUN, AND EARTH COMBINE.
SOME YEARS THE TIDE
REACHES 30 FEET HIGH.
IT HAS CAUSED DEATH
AND DESTRUCTION
IN THE PAST, ESPECIALLY
DURING TYPHOONS.
BARRIERS NOW HELP
PROTECT THE PUBLIC
DURING THE BORE
WATCHING FESTIVAL.
XING YUN IS A QIANTANG
RIVER HYDROLOGIST.
Narrator: THE BORE
IS CAUSED BY THE STRONG
AUTUMNAL INCOMING TIDE
BEING FUNNELED FROM
THE WIDE BAY INTO THE NARROW
NECK OF THE QIANTANG RIVER.
THE OUT FLOWING RIVER
CURRENT THEN PUSHES UP
THE BIGGER INCOMING WAVE
CREATING THE POWERFUL BORE.
A WALL OF WATER THAT RUNS
DOWN THE RIVER FOR 60 MILES
ATTRACTS SOME OF THE BEST BIG
WAVE SURFERS ON THE PLANET.
- 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
AND 40 MINUTES.
YOU GET 20 GOES OF IT.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Narrator: TODAY
IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY,
THE TIDE-WATCHING FESTIVAL.
IT ATTRACTS UP 170,000 PEOPLE.
SCIENTISTS ARE ALSO KEEPING
AN ELECTRONIC EYE ON
THE BORE FROM MULTIPLE CAMERAS
INSTALLED ALONG THE ROUTE.
Narrator: YUN IS GOING TO
GET MUCH CLOSER AND TAKE A
SAMPLE OF THE SEDIMENTS JUST
AFTER THE BORE PASSES THROUGH.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
Narrator: THE ROAR
OF THE TIDE ALERTS
THE THOUSANDS GATHERED
TO WATCH THE GIANT
WALL OF WATER
COLLIDE WITH A DAM.
WHEN IT BOUNCES BACK FROM
THE WALL, A CHAIN OF CHINESE
LANTERNS TRADITIONALLY ACT AS
THE BORE'S HEIGHT YARDSTICK.
Narrator: THE SCIENTISTS
HOPE THAT THEIR DATA
WILL HELP THEM TO PREDICT
WHICH YEARS THE BORE
COULD BE AT ITS
MOST DESTRUCTIVE.
UP THE COAST, MORE BENIGN
TIDAL FORCES HELPED
CREATE AN INDUSTRY THAT
WAS THE ENVY OF THE WEST
FOR CENTURIES, AND IS
STILL CRITICAL TO THIS DAY.
IN A LANDSCAPE AS LARGE AND
DIVERSE AS CHINA'S, THE NATURAL
PROCESSES OF WEATHERING CAN
BRING GREAT ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
CHINA'S SALT LAKES AND
COASTAL SALT FARMS ARE
A RESOURCE THAT HAS LONG BEEN
THE 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
PROPERTIES, SULFATE SALT
ALSO COMBINES WITH ALGAE
TO PRODUCE VIVID COLORS.
ON THE COAST, SEA SALT FARMS
AREN'T QUITE AS COLORFUL,
BUT THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT
NATURAL RESOURCE FOR CHINA,
THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER
AND CONSUMER OF SALT.
BOHAI BAY, ON THE
NORTHEAST COAST.
HERE, THE ANCIENT
PRACTICE OF SALT FARMING
HAS BEEN UPDATED
FOR MODERN TIMES.
CHANGLU TANGGU SALT
WORKS, WHICH DATES BACK
OVER 1000 YEARS, IS THE
LARGEST PRODUCER IN CHINA.
Narrator: WANG HONGQING
IS PART OF A NEW GENERATION
WHO BRINGS MODERN SKILLS
TO AN ANCIENT PRACTICE.
Narrator: SALT
USED TO BE HARVESTED
ONCE A YEAR, IN AUTUMN.
Narrator: THE HIGH SALT
LEVELS OF THE NORTHEASTERN
COASTLINE PRODUCE A
STUNNING VISUAL PHENOMENON
IN SEPTEMBER, THE RED
BEACHES OF PANJIN.
IT'S NOT THE SALT
THAT TURNS RED,
BUT A FLOWERING PLANT,
CALLED A SEEP WEED.
IT THRIVES ON THE
HIGH CONCENTRATION
OF SALTY WATER IN THE BAY.
PART OF THE SHUANGTAI ESTUARY
NATIONAL RESERVE, IT'S ALSO
THE MOST EXTENSIVE BIRD
SANCTUARY IN ALL OF CHINA.
THE BRACKISH MUDFLATS
ATTRACT ONE OF ASIA'S MOST
ENDANGERED AND
ICONIC BIRD SPECIES,
THE FIVE FOOT TALL
RED-CROWNED CRANE.
A TEAM OF CHINESE
CONSERVATIONISTS
ARE TRYING TO HALT
THEIR DECLINE.
ZHAO SHIWEI IS REARING
CRANES FROM EGGS
TO RELEASE BACK TO THE WILD.
Narrator: SHIWEI
TENDS SEVERAL FLOCKS
AT DIFFERENT STAGES
OF DEVELOPMENT.
Narrator: THE
YOUNGEST FLOCK, AT NEARLY
THREE MONTHS, IS ON
THE THRESHOLD OF THEIR
MOST IMPORTANT STAGE,
LEARNING TO FLY.
AFTER FEEDING, SHIWEI
RELEASES THEM TO PRACTICE.
Narrator: SOME
CRANES CAN ACHIEVE
SPECTACULAR FEATS OF FLIGHT,
MIGRATING NEARLY 10,000 MILES
AND REACHING HEIGHTS
OVER 5,000 FEET.
A MORE MATURE FLOCK CAN
FLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC)
UNLIKE MANY OTHER BIRDS,
THESE CRANES ARE BORN WITHOUT
THE INSTINCT TO MIGRATE AND
WILL RETURN TO THEIR PENS.
BUT 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
TO THE AIR AND MIGRATED
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
OVER A MILLENNIUM AGO.
WEIFANG IS OFTEN CALLED
THE WORLD CAPITAL OF KITES.
IT IS LOCATED ON THE WINDSWEPT
NORTHEASTERN
PROVINCE OF SHANDONG.
NINE MILLION PEOPLE LIVE HERE.
BUT IT'S BEST KNOWN FOR ITS
KITE DISTRICT, YANGJIAPU.
AMONG THE 87 KITE FACTORIES
HERE IS WANG YONGXUN'S.
HE HAS HAD A PASSION FOR
KITES SINCE HE CAN REMEMBER.
Narrator: WHAT
STARTED AS A HOBBY
HAS DEVELOPED INTO
A THRIVING BUSINESS.
Narrator: THEY PRODUCE
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT
STYLES FOR MARKETS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
NEARLY 100 PEOPLE ARE
IN 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.
IT ATTRACTS 40 TEAMS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THE EVENT ALSO COMBINES THE
13TH WORLD KITE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHERE MANY COME TO UNVEIL THEIR
MOST CREATIVE KITE DESIGNS.
AFTER THE OPENING
CEREMONY, THE COMPETITORS
LAUNCH THEIR
CUTTING-EDGE CREATIONS.
YONGXUN HAS SEVERAL KITES
IN COMPETITION THIS YEAR,
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO FLY
HIS SHOWPIECE DESIGN,
A GIANT OCTOPUS.
IT TAKES A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE TO HOLD IT DOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST FLYING
ABILITY THAT'S JUDGED.
OVERALL DESIGN AND
INNOVATION ARE CRUCIAL
FACTORS IN WINNING
THE COMPETITION.
Narrator: 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.
A HOME GROWN
INVENTION THAT SPREAD,
LIKE A LOT OF CHINESE
INNOVATIONS AND PASTIMES,
ALONG THE SILK ROAD
TO REST OF THE WORLD.
A SHORT DISTANCE FROM
WEIFANG LIES A PLACE THAT
TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE
WIND THAT SHAPES THIS REGION.
QINGDAO IS CHINA'S
COMPETITIVE SAILING CAPITAL.
AFTER HOSTING THE
OLYMPICS IN 2008,
IT'S NOW A VENUE FOR MANY
OTHER SAILING EVENTS,
INCLUDING ONE SECOND ONLY
TO THE AMERICA'S CUP.
Narrator: EVERY YEAR,
TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
MEET HERE FOR A LEG
OF THE EXTREME SAILING SERIES,
THE GRAND PRIX OF SAILING.
THIS YEAR PROFESSIONAL
LOCAL SAILOR LIU XIE
IS COMPETING IN THE EXTREME
SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UNLIKE MANY OTHER SAILING
RACES, 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
FOILED CATAMARANS
ARE SHIPPED TO EACH
GRAND PRIX EVENT.
THIS YEAR, 24 YEAR OLD LIU
HAS AN EXTRA CHALLENGE,
HE'S PART OF A WILD CARD TEAM.
Narrator: LIU IS
ALSO HOPING TO INSPIRE
THE NEXT GENERATION
OF CHINESE SAILORS WHO
ARE HOLDING THEIR
OWN SMALL REGATTA.
Narrator: 15
YEAR OLD NIU QINGHUA
IS ONE OF CHINA'S UP AND
COMING SAILING HOPEFULS.
Narrator: IT'S THE
FINAL RACE OF THE DAY.
BEING ON BOARD AN
EXTREME SAILING VESSEL
TAKES SKILL, MUSCLE,
AND DETERMINATION.
IT'S A WORKOUT.
THESE BOATS CAN REACH SPEEDS
OF UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR.
Narrator: CAPSIZING
IS ALWAYS A DANGER
AS THE SAILORS PUSH
THEMSELVES TO THE LIMIT.
IT SOON BECOMES A BATTLE
BETWEEN THREE TEAMS,
THE LEAD CHANGING SEVERAL TIMES.
LIU'S TEAM STRUGGLES AT
THE BACK OF THE FLEET.
AND EVEN THOUGH
THE WILD CARD TEAM
FINISHES LAST, LIU
IS PHILOSOPHICAL.
Narrator: IN ONE
SHORT GENERATION,
CHINA HAS CHANGED FASTER
THAN ANY NATION IN HISTORY,
THROUGH MAJOR ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
THAT HAVE HELPED GROW
ITS ECONOMY AND SECURE
THE COUNTRY'S STATUS
AS A GLOBAL POWERHOUSE.
CHINA IS BROADENING
ITS OUTLOOK, TOO,
FROM CONSERVATION AND
CELEBRATION OF OLD PASTIMES,
TO EMBRACING NEW SPORTS
AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES,
ALL WHILE RACING TO
ADAPT TO THE 21ST
CENTURY CHALLENGES
THAT LIE AHEAD.