CityReads│Man-Environment Relationships in the 21st China

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Man-Environment Relationships in the 21^st China

New season of China from above is showcasing the changing man-environment relationships in the 21^st China.

National Geographic Channels International(NGCI), 2018. China From Above, Season 2.

Sources: https://www.nhnz.tv/china-from-above-2

http://natgeotv.com/asia/china-from-above

https://www.bilibili.com/bangumi/media/md3696945/?from=search&seid=6519669098983823612

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) released the two-part documentary China From Above in 2015, which captures China from above as cameras catalog the country’s assorted landscapes, extreme weather, massive cities and sprawling infrastructure in 90 minutes (See CityReads | Seeing China From the Air) . Three years later, working with China Intercontinental Communication Center,  NGCI made the season 2 of China from above, which have gained the rare access to Tibet and revealed the latest development of the highest city on earth, Lhasa. Season 2 shows how China combines the modern technology and traditional practice to use and transform the ocean, mountains, rivers, lakes and lands and captures the changing man-environment relationships in the 21^st China.

Once again, there are two episodes in the second season. The first episode, Dynamic Coast, is an aerial exploration of China's coastal and Eastern provinces, revealing the lives of both people in cities and rural life along its great coastline.  It is not only China's most populous region, but also China's most economically developed region. From the tropical Hainan Province to the frozen north, it explores the beauty of the coast and shows the economic, cultural and social development achievements of the eastern coast.

The second episode, Land of Mountains And Rivers, is an aerial exploration of China's vast interior, revealing the people who live in some of the most diverse landscapes on the planet. It starts from the majestic Himalayas and crossed the undulating Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It descends from Yunnan along the river and heads east to the bustling capital of Shanghai. It shows the diversity of China's geological features and diverse cultural landscapes.

How China develops the coastal resources?

China's 18,000 kilometers of coastline possesses very diverse environment and abundant natural resources. From the cold Bohai Bay in the north to Hainan island in the far tropical south. China is rapidly urbanizing under the lead of the eastern provinces. In just 40 years, hundreds of millions of people have flowed into the city from the rural areas. Nearly half of China’s population, more than 600 million people live here, and jointly promote the economic, cultural and social development of the eastern coast.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge spans nearly 50 kilometers of the Pearl River Delta and connects its three major cities. It is by far the longest sea bridge on the earth. More than 400,000 tonnes of steel have been used for the 6.7 km undersea tunnel and 22.9 km bridge, enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers. British newspaper, The Guardian, names the megastructure one of its "seven wonders of the modern world." The bridge will cut travel time from Hong Kong to both Zhuhai and Macao from three hours by road to a half hour’s drive, which is of great significance for enhancing the comprehensive competitiveness of the Pearl River Delta region.

Coast areas contain an alternative energy: wind power. The average wind speed along the coast of China is among the best in the world. Rudong Power Plant in northern Shanghai is China's largest offshore wind farm. In the shallow waters about 8 kilometers offshore, there are nearly 100 wind turbines operating in the water, which convert natural offshore wind resources into electricity for use by thousands of households on land.

The milder tidal power on the eastern coast of China has promoted the development of the salt industry. China is rich in salt resources, and it is the world's largest producer of salt. Chinese salt makers are using modern technology in this ancient industry. Salt used to be collected once a year in the past. As technology progresses, the Chinese salt makers have been able to crystallize salt all year round and harvest seasonally.

Houtouwan Village, located on the island of Shengshan, where more than 2,000 fishermen's families once lived. However, as the location is too remote and life was inconvenient, the residents of the village have left their hometowns, leaving the village deserted. Green plants grow wildly and cover the entire village and the whole village is completely reclaimed by nature.

In the northeastern part of the Bohai Bay, 20 acres of red "ocean" is stunning. The high salinity of the zone is conducive to the growth of Suaeda, and in September each year, this plant brings a spectacular sight to Panjin. In addition to the stunning Red Beach, it is also a paradise for birds, where Chinese animal protectionists are trying to save the world's remaining 3,000 red-crowned cranes.

Hangzhou Bay is the outlet to the East China Sea, with a spectacular natural scene, the Qiantang River tidal wave. When the moon, the sun, and the earth are lined up, gravity will bring a big wave, reaching a maximum of 10 meters. Since the Han and Wei Dynasties, the Qiantang River view has become a grand custom of the year. Ancient tidal water would bring disaster to people, but with the advancement of engineering technology, people can control the tidal wave to a certain extent. Qiantang River has attracted countless visitors with its unique and extraordinary river tide. More than 90 kilometers of water walls in the Qiantang River also attract surfers from all over the world.

Weifang, located in the northeastern part of Shandong Province, is known as the world's kite capital. This spiritually-inspired Chinese entertainment project spread to other countries and regions more than 1,000 years ago. The International Kite Festival and Kite Championships are held here, attracting teams from all over the world every year. Participants showcase their creative kites in the competition.

In Qingdao, not far from Weifang, people there take full advantage of the wind of the land. Qingdao today is the capital of sailing competitions in China. After the 2008 Olympic Games, it has become a venue for many sailing events, attracting sailing enthusiasts from all over the world.

How all 56 ethnic groups in China coexist and co-thrive with the mountains, rivers and lakes?

All major rivers in China and Asia originates in the Tibetan Plateau, the world’s roof. Yangtze River and Yellow River are among them, flowing from from the snow-covered western edge of China, passing through China's vast hinterland to the east coast. These rivers are the lifeblood of China. They are considered to be the center of traditional Chinese culture. Hundreds of millions of people living there are closely connected with the environment. The ancient rivers witness the integration of tradition and modernity in the coastal areas.

In the Tibet Autonomous Region, its provincial capital, Lhasa, is developing rapidly. The new infrastructure construction means that Lhasa is no longer a city with inconvenient transportation. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest altitude railway in the world and the longest on the frozen soil. It connects Tibet with other parts of China and drives the overall development of the Tibet region.

On September 22^nd of Tibetan calendar, the Tibetan people celebrate for the Buddha`s descent from heaven. On this day, Tibetan burn incense and pay pilgrimage to the Buddha on the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and other places , praying for good weather and happiness.

People in the Gongbu area of Tibet have their own dialects, traditions and entertainment activities. Every fall, they like to celebrate the festival with their favorite sports. For the people of Lulang Town in Gongbu District, the folk activities of archery are still very important to people's lives. In the past, hunting with bows and arrows was the key to survival, but now the archery competition is used as a social activity that enhances the feelings of the residents.

Mount Everest attracts extreme mountaineers from all over the world. Many mountaineers have left garbage on the mountain peaks, which are not degradable in cold environments. Every year, Chinese mountain climbers carry out environmental cleaning activities, which is in line with the philosophy of Tibetans living in harmony with nature.

The Yellow River is vital to the arid north. It used to be the cradle of early Chinese civilization. It now supplies 155 million people and irrigates 20 million hectares of land. This river allows people to live in northern China and grow crops where there is little rain.

On the edge of the desert, an oasis in Ningxia Autonomous Region stretches for several kilometers, which provides the perfect conditions for growing grapes. Planting quality grapes in this arid region is challenging. People need to save on the Yellow River water and groundwater sources. The application of the drip irrigation system has enabled the plantation industry to develop, and 40,000 hectares of vines are grown on this once arid land. This region is now the second largest wine region in the world and has earned a reputation as a quality wine producer in China.

Although winemaking is an emerging industry, growing crops on dry land in northern China is not new. The 110,000 statues of Buddha in Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang are proof of the ancient civilization. The numerous Buddha statues range in height from less than two centimeters to 17 centimeters and have a history of more than 1,500 years. Due to natural weathering and man-made destruction, the protection of these Buddha statues faces enormous challenges. The Chinese cultural relics protection team is using the 21st century digital technology to repair the destroyed Buddha statues. Modern digital technology has revitalized this unique history of China and allows future generations to continue to appreciate it.

Chongqing, located in the mountains, has to create a series of vertical transportation solutions, and this historic city is moving towards a challenging three-dimensional layout. Chongqing is a major manufacturing town and a transportation hub. Here, the expressway makes industrial development as efficient as the coastal areas, and Chongqing is directly connected to Germany through the Central European train. Chongqing Port is still vital to the transportation of goods within China. It is connected to the East Coast through the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia. It flows eastward through Chongqing and Wuhan, and finally flows into the East China Sea, with a total length of more than 6,000 kilometers. The seaport is located in Shanghai, one of the most densely populated cities in China. China's vast inland is connected by the Yangtze River and the coast. Ships from deep inland meet with ships from all over the world. Water transportation promotes the prosperity and development of China's economy.

In the eastern part of Zhejiang Province, lies a lake with a thousand of lakes. But it is actually a man-made landscape with a history of only 60 years, which was formed during the construction of hydropower plants in early years of People’s Republic China. Beneath the water lies China's "Atlantis", Lion City. Lion City is an ancient city with a history of thousand years. When the valley was flooded for the dam to create the reservoir, the ancient city was lost to the depth of water.  Now a team of professional divers and photographers are taking images with 3D technology for the first time.

China, a nation of enormous contrast , has a wide range of climate and natural conditions. From the vast western mountainous frontier to the densely populated, fastest developed coastal areas, and to the Central Plains in the middle. China's ethnic groups are diverse, and all regions are united and actively face the challenges brought about by the changes in the world in the 21st century. Combining modern technology and traditional practice, man-environment relationships in China are evolving to achieve sustainability.

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