Sichuan Wangcang Releases Ecological Documentary Encounter with the Ancient Trees, Documenting Millennium-Old Tree Conservation and Biodiversity Coexistence

Wangcang County, Sichuan – A new three-episode original ecological documentary, Encounter with the Ancient Trees, has been officially released. Created by photojournalists Hu Kun and Chen Jiapu, the film focuses on the diverse ancient tree communities in the Micang Mountains of the Qinba region, offering an objective portrayal of local practices in ancient tree protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable rural development.

The documentary highlights three distinctive types of rare ancient tree resources in the area: vast expanses of millennium-old alpine rhododendrons, Sichuan’s largest ancient tea-tree community spanning over 6,000 mu (approx. 400 hectares), and complex native ancient forest ecosystems that sustain a complete wildlife chain. Rejecting formulaic scenic filming, the production team spent extended periods in the mountains, integrating expert interviews, frontline ranger documentation, oral histories from local residents, and infrared camera footage of wildlife. The film provides a comprehensive record of the region’s integrated ancient-tree protection system, which combines legal safeguards, digital archiving, smart patrolling, and industry-based reinvestment.

The documentary features extensive field data: the county is home to 4,700 ancient alpine rhododendrons, including one specimen aged 1,300 years, known as the “King of Sichuan Rhododendron.” In Daliang Town, there are over 12,000 clusters of century-old tea trees and 110 clusters of millennium-old tea trees, which were included in the White Paper on the Status of Ancient Tea Tree Resources in China in 2024. These ancient forests form a stable mountain ecosystem, providing habitat and breeding grounds for species such as the red-and-white flying squirrel, the near-threatened complex-toothed flying squirrel, the grey heron, the Asian black bear, and the large Indian civet. The primeval beech forests, with an evolutionary history of 7 million years, serve as a core habitat for regional biodiversity. Concurrently, local villages have launched ancient-tree education programs in schools, passing on conservation values to younger generations.

The film weaves together multiple layers of humanistic narratives: alpine rhododendrons carry the cultural nostalgia of Bashu and the revolutionary “Azalea” (red mountain flower) memory; ancient tea trees preserve a thousand-year history of imperial tea culture and the local tradition of tea cultivation and appreciation passed down through generations. Returning young entrepreneurs have developed distinctive industries based on these ancient tree resources, boosting local incomes and vividly demonstrating the mutual benefits of ecological protection and community prosperity.

In interviews, the two lead cinematographers stated that the team pursued two core objectives: to move beyond conventional tree-focused imagery and present a complete ecological picture of the interdependence between forests, wildlife, and local communities; and to tell compelling, authentic Chinese stories of nature through documentary lens, creating an international ecological narrative that is accessible and relatable to global audiences. The entire production employed lightweight, unobtrusive filming methods to minimize human disturbance to the pristine mountain environment and preserve the true appearance of nature.

The documentary is now publicly available for screening. The Wangcang County International Communication Center expressed its hope that the film will help preserve the genetic resources of ancient trees in the Qinba Mountains and share with the international community China’s practical approaches to mountain ecological conservation and balanced rural development.