While the ultimate value of captive breeding projects like this is debatable, there are places in china where animals are being successfully protected in their wild habitats. Right at the top of the Qingling Mountains lives a rare and mysterious creature that has inspired legends as far away as ancient Greece. The size of a buffalo and with a temper to match, this is the original owner of the Golden Fleece, the golden Takin. Golden takin make their way to the top of the mountains for the breeding season. It’s an opportunity for the males to prove their mettle. They are formidable and aggressive creatures. Now victorious this male will have access to the females. Despite living high on the mountains, golden takin were once hunted to near extinction for their meat. In a return to the laws of ancient china, there is now a government ban on poaching and the takin is officially protected.

 Attitudes towards nature in china are clearly complex and rooted in tradition. And in Qingling Mountains there is one story that shows just how valuable these traditions can be. Every morning a flock of crested ibis leave their roosts close to the village of yangxian in search of food. Traditionally the bird’s departure marks the start of the farmer’s day. Crested ibises need wetlands for feeding and rice paddies are the perfect place to hunt for eels, frogs and snails. The birds and farmers had probably coexisted here for thousands of years. Until the 20^th century when in many parts of china, rice was replaced by more profitable wheat production. Crested ibises’ number rapidly declined, at one point, they were even believed to be extinct. Then in 1981, the last 7 crested ibises on earth were found here. The Chinese government stepped in protecting the rice paddies so the birds could continue to feed and safeguarding neighboring trees to enable them to breed. Rescued from the brink of extinction, there are now 500 crested ibises living around yangxian town. In modern china, room is being made for nature once again.

  But the appreciation of nature in china isn’t confined to impressive animals and colorful birds. Mountain landscapes have held a fascination for Chinese artists and poets throughout history. Mountains also have religious significance as places that linked earth with the heavens. One of the most sacred of all is here at mount Emei, the site of 2000-year-old Buddhist temple. China today has the world’s largest Buddhist population. These old sacred sites are highly cherished. Nearly 2 million people visit mount Emei each year.

 But Buddhist temples aren’t the only attraction. Now mountain emie is home to Tibetan macaques, the biggest of their kind. Their thick coats enable them to thrive in harsh mountain conditions at altitude up to 3000 meters. Ancient Chinese people believe that good deeds towards human looking macaques were an investment for eternity. But for these city dwelling tourists whose everyday lives are far removed from wild life, this encounter is an uneasy mix of reverence and fear. But for the macaques too, it’s an awkward relationship. The monkeys normally forage for fruit, but the tourists are a much easier source of food. Constant contact with people is changing the behavior of the troop. Once wary of humans the macaques are growing bolder. How are tourists supposed to know that this eyebrow-raising display means trouble? Some of the more assertive monkeys have to be policed accordingly. While the impact on wild life from mass tourism is not entirely beneficial, the fact the increasingly numbers of people are enjoying nature at first hand suggests some hope for the future. Despite all the changes in china during the last fifty years, many sacred places like Emei are being protected.

 Heading west, china’s heartland becomes increasingly rugged. Beyond the Qingling Mountains lies the even higher minshan where towering peaks conceal one of china’s most remarkable landscapes known to the Chinese as fairyland paradise. Jiuzhaigou was virtually unknown until the 1970s, today it’s one of china’s most famous tourist areas and it’s recognized internationally as a world heritage site. The limestone mountains are the source of crystal-clear springs which are formed over 100 lakes filled with lime-rich water of unbelievable colour. Underwater is a perfectly preserved ghostly forest shrouded in algae. This strange world is home to a species of fish unique to these lakes. Who would’ve guessed that with close to a billion inhabitants china’s heartland could still harbor a landscape of such pristine beauty.

 It’s spring in the Qingling Mountains. As the farmers tend their new crops the secret life of china’s most famous animal is finally coming to light. In one of the last panda’s strongholds, a drama is about to unfold, one which has rarely been witnessed. A young female has ventured into the valley, sparking a flurry of interest among the resident males. A panda’s life is mostly solitary until the spring breeding season. When the brief opportunity to mate arises, the males must be ready to take their chance, but timing is everything. This male’s approach is somewhat lacking subtletyand anyway the female isn’t ready for him yet. Her peak receptive time lasts just two days. So he guards here finding his time with a good supply of bamboo. Unfortunately his hostage must eat too, but she doesn’t exactly feel like descending. Another male has been attracted to the scene. He is a veteran of many breeding seasons. He is wary of his rival because this time of a year males are transformed frompeace-loving bamboo eaters into potential killers. Despite the danger, he makes a challenge. The defending male rises to meet him. The challenger is chased by the defending male. In the thick bamboo, the battle rages as the males fight for dominance. The female wisely stays clear of trouble. The challenger backs down. The size and strength of the defending male is just too much. The loser retreats and the exhausted buttriumphant victor returns to the female. This time she is ready for him. Instead of running she waits. This is the first time this extraordinary courtship behavior has ever been filmed in the wild. If mating is successful, the female will produce a single cub and rear it on her own. Today with the improving attitude towards wild life conservation, there is hope that china’s 1600 remaining wild pandas have some chance of survival.

 In 2003 conservation became an integral part of the curriculum for china’s 200 million school students. For the children of the Qingling Mountains, knowing what a special neighbor they have may help to protect it for the future.

 In the midst of headlong change conducted at a pace unprecedented in human history, can china hold on to its ancient desire for harmony with nature? Can it reconcile the aspirations of its people with a long-term need to protect its environment?

 Here at the temple of heaven in the very heart of Beijing, there are signs of a new attitude towards nature. Every year, as thousands of birds migrate southwards to escape the winter, one secret species seek shelter in the temple grounds. Safeguarded by the temple’s tradition as many as ten owls can be seen in the same tree. The owls’ arrival is celebrated by members of recently formed Beijing bird club. Migration can be a dangerous undertaking and every year many owls suffer the hazards of power lines, traffic and industry. Some of the more fortunate end up here at Beijing’s raptor rescue centre. Established in 2001, it’s the first of its kind. Here owls are given medical attention by sun quanhui and his team. The birds are even exercised to help their rehabilitation. Once deemed fit and healthy, the owls are taken to the hills at the edge of Beijing. Every spring, staff from Beijing’s raptor rescue center release dozens the owls. Today there are over 1500 designated nature reserves in china, covering large tracts of some of the country’s finest landscapes.

 As china looks to the future with a renewed sense of direction, ancient traditions are still very much a part of its culture. It’s Chinese New Year. All over the country, the people prepare to appease their oldest and most venerated creature, the dragon. As night falls, everyone from the neighborhood brings a lantern. And one by one, the lights are added to the dragon’s tale. As the procession grows longer, the atmosphere builds for the spectacle of one of oldest and greatest inventions. The dragon dance is performed all over china. The ceremony itself is still thousands of years old, but it’s still the highlight of the Chinese New Year. As the dragon winds its way through the village, it has grown hundreds of meters long. Everyone is a part of it.

 After a century of unprecedented change in china during which the environmental protection has not been a priority, there are now signs of a new direction. In October 2006, the communist party specifically identified promoting harmony between man and nature as an important step in their goal of building a harmonious society, and called on the Chinese people to accelerate the construction of an environmentally friendly society. As china’s economy continues to grow, its re-engagement with the ancient ideal of harmony with nature provides a glimmer of hope for the future of wild china.