First documentary on Chinese white dolphin opens across China

The documentary "Chinese White Dolphin," jointly produced by China Media Group, Guangdong Radio and Television, and Zhuhai Media Group, opened nationwide on Friday. Six years in the making, it is the world's first documentary film centered on the Chinese white dolphin.

The Chinese white dolphin is the only marine mammal bearing the name "Chinese." Listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and protected as a national first-class species, its global population is estimated at around 6,000. More than 4,500 live in Chinese waters, including over 2,000 in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.

The 82-minute film takes the construction of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and the jointly hosted 15th National Games of the three regions as its backdrop. The story follows a dolphin named "Zhuzhu" on her journey home.

Upholding principles of scientific authority, accessibility, vivid storytelling and international perspective, the production team worked with institutions including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Branch of the China Wildlife Conservation Association. 

Their filming footprint covered China's Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Thailand. The team conducted more than 100 offshore shoots, traveling over 3,600 nautical miles, and interviewed 21 scientists and 17 conservationists, collecting over 1,000 hours of valuable footage.

Director Yan Dong said the film depicts not only the migration and survival of the Chinese white dolphin, but also a life force that crosses oceans and connects us all.