Language
Radio TV
China
2026.04.30 17:28 GMT+8

'Monkey Commander' to bid farewell to monkey reserve area

Updated 2026.04.30 17:28 GMT+8
CGTN

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing on April 23, 2026. 59-year-old Yang Yongliu, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals. /VCG

Hundreds of macaques form a popular attraction for tourists at Tongjing Scenic Area in Chongqing. Yang Yongliu, 59, nicknamed the "Monkey Commander" by netizens, is the much-trusted caretaker of these protected animals.

He took up his post back in 2008, when there were only some 70 to 80 macaques in the troop. After nearly two decades of good care, the number has now grown to over 300. The steady expansion of the monkey troop is a true reflection of the continuous improvement of the area's ecological environment.

Yang Yongliu starts work at around 7 a.m. every day and heads home at 4:30 p.m. His daily routine includes calling the macaques down the mountain for feeding, cleaning the reserve area, and constantly reminding tourists not to tease or touch the monkeys – a routine he keeps up 365 days a year. As retirement approaches, Yang Yongliu cherishes every single day of this job even more. 

Copyright © 

RELATED STORIES

EXPLORE MORE

CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE

DOWNLOAD OUR APP

Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
京公网安备 11010502050052号

互联网新闻信息许可证10120180008

Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466