Wild China - Land Of The Panda

Description: This episode features central China,home to the Han Chinese.They’re the largest ethnic group on Earth,& their language Mandarin the most widely spoken.This looks at how the relationship between people & wildlife has changed over time.Ancient Chinese beliefs placed great importance in the harmonious co-existence of man & nature.At the beginning of China, 's period of rapid economic growth,this ideal was largely forgotten.A number of political references contrast the more enlightened environmental policies of the current gov’t w- those under Chairman Mao,w-c led to widespread degradation.The Chinese alligator & crested ibis are 2 species saved from extinction by direct intervention.Other animals have benefited from ancient spiritual beliefs & customs w-c live on,promoting respect & reverence for wildlife:the yellow weasels & Mandarin ducks of Beijing are 2 such creatures.However,wildlife is still threatened by illegal poaching for food & traditional medicine.West of Beijing lie the fertile lands of the N.China Plain & the Loess plateau,source of the Yellow River.Increased demand for water has changed the river, 's flow,& soil erosion causes dust storms w-c reach the capital.Further west,the Qinling Mt.’s are a refuge for some of China, 's rarest species including the takin,golden snub-nosed monkey & giant panda. Giant panda courtship & mating is shown,filmed for the first time in the wild.In the colourful lakes of Jiuzhaigou,unique fish swim amongst forests preserved underwater