00:00China, with her vast rivers and towering mountains, spans five time zones and thousands of miles.
00:17These spectacular peaks, the nourishing waters, sustain countless forms of life.
00:40We will range far and wide, visiting some of the most fascinating corners of this enchanted
00:48land and admiring the charms of wild China.
01:02There is probably no country on Earth with a greater variety of landforms than China.
01:10Our journey will first take us to an immense ice field among the glaciers of the Qingzhang
01:17Gowon, to behold a desolate yet marvelous spectacle lying at its mid and lower latitudes.
01:28Then we will head for southern China, to explore the fascinating limestone formations in Asia's
01:37deepest cave, where numerous forms of life flourish.
01:40The Qingzhang Gowon, known as the roof of the world, the one with the greatest number of glaciers.
01:47The Qingzhang Gowon, known as the roof of the world, the one with the greatest number of glaciers.
02:03The Puerong Kangri Glacier, lies at the heart of the plateau.
02:11The high elevation of 5,800 meters, flat terrain, ample snow, and cold climate here, have created
02:19permanent glaciers.
02:20It wasn't until the autumn of 1999 that Chinese scientists first set foot here, to observe
02:30the glacier at first hand.
02:37Its ice layer is as thick as a 60-story building as high.
02:46Without doubt, this is the largest mid-to-lower-latitude glacier on Earth.
02:58The arrival of winter turns this oxygen-starved land of extreme cold into a no-go area for many
03:07life forms.
03:13The Tibetan antelope is the plateau's best known inhabitant.
03:21But they struggle to endure the cold and hunger.
03:27Perhaps it's time to leave.
03:37The adult male yak, 2 meters high at the shoulders, is the plateau's strongest inhabitant.
03:47Every component of their frame is designed for this environment of extreme cold and thin oxygen.
03:55But at the moment, these denizens are dealing with a serious challenge.
04:04In order to survive, they need to decamp to a lower-lying region.
04:16But this yak is old and frail.
04:22It has missed the optimum time to migrate.
04:30It's upsetting to imagine the fate that awaits it in the weeks to come.
04:39In Parag Kangri, at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, the cold and lack of oxygen are exacerbated.
04:51He must endure the severe climate on his own.
05:01Here, for half of the year, winter holds sway.
05:11The wind can reach 150 kilometers an hour.
05:21The areas surrounding the vast ice field often experience temperatures of minus 40 degrees centigrade
05:30or lower or lower.
05:33The yak, on its own in the frozen river valley, appears to have given up hope.
05:42Without its herd, it will succumb to the cold and hunger within a month.
05:49In Parag Kangri, injury or separation from the herd brings the possibility of imminent death.
06:12However, even in the worst circumstances, life can find a way of surviving.
06:24The rock jasmine is a pioneer species, living closer than any other to the ice field.
06:36The leaves of these lowly plants are tightly curled.
06:44Like tiny rugs, they cling to the cold rock.
06:59In summer, at noon, as the temperature rises above zero, the snow and ice melt and form a stream.
07:17Immediately, the rock jasmine don a new outfit.
07:25The tiny blossoms eagerly peep out to bask in the rare warmth of the sunshine.
07:39The rock jasmine grow one centimeter at most in a year.
07:46Reaching its present size has taken this plant at least 50 years.
07:55In the brief summer at Parag Kangri, the weather is highly unpredictable.
08:03The ice field's powerful refrigerating effect causes an intense alternation of cold and warm
08:10air currents, which can lead to a sudden downpour and even unleash a hailstorm.
08:23The marmot has suffered badly in the hail.
08:29A rodent with thick fur, it's a cousin of the squirrel.
08:38After eight months of the year, they remain in winter hibernation.
08:48Warm days are few and far between.
08:55Ignoring the risk of being drenched, it dashes into the open air.
09:01A rodent with thick fur, it's a cousin of the sea, it's a cousin of the sea, it's a cousin.
09:10The warm summer ushers in scenes of great vitality.
09:15The antelopes have returned to Parag Kangri.
09:26Wild yaks are also stomping their familiar ground again.
09:34Better preservation efforts in recent years have seen a rise in the Tibetan antelope and
09:41yak populations.
09:46The herds are getting bigger.
09:52In the valley nearby, the blue bear has risen from its winter slumber.
10:00There are three families, numbering at least ten bears altogether.
10:08It's as if their appearance has turned the valley into a bear's paradise.
10:23The Mupinpika has a small yet plump body.
10:29During the summer, if the weather permits, they will troop out to feed and play on the grass.
10:45The hungry bears are eyeing up the marmots.
10:54But they have terrible luck and dinner slips through their paws.
11:06The fleeting summer makes hunting a pressing and anxious venture.
11:16They are all doing their best to turn every cave upside down.
11:26In desperation, who's concerned about the size of the prey and good manners?
11:38Here, every animal's behavior is shaped by the vast ice field environment.
11:59A bird's eye view reveals an immense ice field below the mountains.
12:09The gales have driven all the snow into the crevices.
12:15An icy tongue 800 meters wide is extending downward at a relentless pace.
12:27The rain, snow and hail accumulate, melt and solidify.
12:36The constant changing of the seasons over millions of years has created a landscape that offers a glimpse
12:45of a thousand years of change.
13:05The glacier formed by compacted snow has been eroded by the meltwater to present an array of huge
13:15spiral passageways.
13:24This pure bluish ice is a priceless time capsule.
13:31Every inch is a silent entry in the chronicle of global climate change.
13:46To the east of the Qing Zhang Gaowuan lies the hinterland of southwest China, the site of a limestone wonderland.
14:03the larger area of China is a veritable kingdom of karst.
14:17Through millions of years of erosion, the vast expanse of limestone has been shaped into myriad formations.
14:28The vast caves have been formed.
14:34Beneath this stone forest, vast cave systems have been formed.
14:43Deep among the mountains of Giju Province is Shuanguha Cave, the longest cave in Asia.
14:53By 2018, 238.48 kilometers of it had been explored.
15:02This identified it as the sixth longest cave in the world.
15:09This passageway, 1.3 kilometers long and measuring 20 meters by 15 is part of Shuanghu Cave.
15:23Three decades of exploration have uncovered an intricate network of several layers of interconnected
15:30water and water and dry caves.
15:37More than 280 linked passageways form a gigantic subterranean system of spaces.
15:49In the richly colored cave interiors, a distinctive mineral crystal causes the walls to constantly
15:57change color.
16:06Blue sulfate seeps out of the cracks covering the wall.
16:13This has created the world's largest celestine cave.
16:27In southern China, numerous cave collapses have produced the spectacular phenomenon of heavenly
16:35poles.
16:48The coursing streams continue to fashion this underground spectacle.
17:01A huge stalactite hangs from the cave roof.
17:09Its unique shape resembles the gaping mouth of a fish.
17:16Following the calcium carbonate conduits, the dripping water has deposited a huge, circular
17:22stalagmite under the fish's mouth.
17:29This remarkable pair of formations present a truly memorable sight.
17:40After millions of years, the erosion is still continuing.
17:54The torrential rains often turn the CO2-laden waters into keen carving knives that erode the limestone
18:04along its grain.
18:09This steady application of force has produced serrated ridges.
18:20To survive in such an unusual forest calls for an extraordinary ability to adapt.
18:32In early autumn, the pistache trees emit a pleasant fragrance that attracts visitors from far and wide.
18:48The red-bellied squirrel has caught the scent.
18:53But how can it negotiate the sharp stone blades to reach the feast?
19:02Evidently, a detour is too much trouble.
19:10The squirrel decides to crawl across the blades.
19:27Before long, other squirrels arrive.
19:32The Chinese pistache is the tallest actual tree in the stone forest.
19:40However, to expand the living space for its descendants, it needs the help of the small squirrels.
19:49In a short while, the squirrels will carry the undigested seeds and scatter them farther afield.
19:57This is a win-win arrangement for both parties.
20:04In southern China, in the karst regions close to the Vietnam border, a rare leaf monkey has set
20:11up home on the stone pillars, where he commands a sweeping view.
20:20The white-headed leaf monkey is a close cousin of humans.
20:27It's the only species of leaf monkey to spend its whole life among mountains.
20:35This large family group of 25 lives across three peaks.
20:46The patriarch remains constantly vigilant.
20:53Such a big family demands constant attention.
20:59The baby monkey is covered in golden fur.
21:06Its three-month-old brother is already eagerly exploring his surroundings.
21:16They spend very little of their time on the ground.
21:20The leaf above, among the trees, seems carefree, but a misstep may have dire consequences.
21:31To raise offspring in such a difficult environment is a major challenge for the parents.
21:42For the leaf monkey, to move from peak to peak requires swift passage through the intervening woods.
21:56Its tail, which is one and a half times its body length, serves to keep its balance.
22:11The leaf monkeys get all their water and energy from leaves, flowers, and fruits.
22:21Today, they have discovered a new living space.
22:28This is a small eucalyptus forest.
22:39The tall, straight tree trunks have become a playground for the monkeys.
22:51But these primates aren't here just to enjoy themselves.
23:00They're actually nibbling at the tree.
23:07The bark offers a unique blend of flavors and textures.
23:12The monkeys seem to be enjoying their snack.
23:16This strange phenomenon has only been observed in recent years.
23:21With darkness gathering, it's time to go home.
23:31They live high up on the cliff.
23:33The well-hidden spot is hard for predators to approach, whether a ferocious raptor from
23:40the air or one of the creatures prowling on the ground.
23:46The fact is, there's only a single route to the cliff, with next to nothing to hold onto.
23:53So every step must be precise.
24:08The most difficult stretch is 50 meters above the ground.
24:14A fall is certain to prove fatal.
24:20Finally, they return home safely.
24:28From the ice field deep on the Qingzhang Gowon, to southern China's 550,000 square kilometers
24:38of karst, the ubiquitous water is constantly changing life.
24:47Even in the deepest caves and on the highest mountain peaks, life will continue to evolve and flourish.
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