Qiaolihua, a young man of the Lisu ethnicity group living in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has been working as a forest ranger and is particularly good at "talking" with birds by imitating their singing. Qiaolihua is his first name, and he has no surname, which is very common among Lisu people. His bond with birds started when the young man met the severely threatened white-speckled laughing thrush for the first time. 

The bird was first discovered and named by a French missionary in northwestern Yunnan. To this day, its specimen is stored in the French National Museum of Natural History. Over the years, it has gradually faded from people's sight. 

Qiaolihua spotted one when he was working as a local guide for a group of university students in search of the bird. The flying creature inspired him.

Watch this episode to learn more about his story.

About 'Journeys in Nature': Lijiang Series

"Plant kingdom" and the "home of Yunnan medicines" are among the nicknames given to a famous city in southwest China's Yunnan Province – Lijiang. Not only are the numerous plant species a calling card, but the city is also well-known for its towering peaks and mysterious animals. In this series, CGTN Nature unveils the mysteries of a city full of surprises.

For more:

Lijiang Series Ep. 1: What else is there except billion-year-old fern?

Lijiang Series Ep. 2: The orchid that resembles ladies' slippers

Lijiang Series Ep. 3: Milky river on the plateau

Lijiang Series Ep. 4: A garden in the air!

Lijiang Series Ep. 5: Encounter with reclusive pheasants in primitive forest

Lijiang Series Ep. 6: Lugu lake

Lijiang Series Ep. 7: The Mountain Circling Festival

Lijiang Series Ep. 8: Dongba symbols – hieroglyphs related to nature

(Cover image a video screenshot; video by the CGTN Nature film crew)

(If you have specific expertise and want to contribute, or if you have a topic of interest that you'd like to share with us, please email us at nature@cgtn.com.)