MEET CHINA Episode 39

In this episode of "Meet China," we spotlight extraordinary connections across borders—ranging from natural world documentation, green and historic site transformations, to culinary innovation. From a wildlife photographer devoted to wildlife conservation through photography to the green transformation of deserts and the restoration of a Cambodian UNESCO World Heritage site, we follow stories that reflect China’s expanding global engagement and the human experiences behind it.

First, we meet Xi Zhinong, a Chinese wildlife photographer, who has devoted himself to wildlife conservation through the compelling power of imagery. From golden snub-nosed monkeys to snow leopards, and from Tibetan antelopes to green peafowls, his lens has traversed the vast landscapes of China over four decades, mirroring the ecological development of the country.

Next, we explore what was once a major source of sandstorms threatening the Yellow River Basin and North China's ecosystems, Inner Mongolia's Kubuqi Desert, which has achieved green transformation. It pioneered a "PV + desert control" model that converts abundant solar energy into clean power while forming protective ground cover. The former golden sand sea now thrives as a solar PV blue ocean intertwined with rejuvenated oases.

Then, we head to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, an UNESCO World Heritage site, faced severe threats from extreme heat and decay, leading to its 1992 endangered listing. China joined restoration efforts in 1998, and experts successfully revived two temples, resulting in its removal from the danger list by 2004. This preservation also sparked the revival of Bokator, a martial art carved into its walls, restoring cultural pride.

Finally, we meet Lu Shaoyuan, who, upon graduating from university, opened a café in the border town of Dongxing, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, selling Vietnamese coffee. It soon proved to be a hit with tourists, particularly thanks to a beverage from across the border: Vietnamese egg coffee.