China Stories V:The Contemporary Life of Camel Herders
The Contemporary Life of Camel Herders
There are a group of herdsmen who camel for generations in the TengGeLi Desert, located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.
As times changed, the road to the northern route of the Silk Road was repaired, and camels were no longer the main means of transportation. Brother Ba, a new generation of herdsmen went back to his hometown after travelling in big cities for ten years, using new technology —— GPS satellite positioning to graze camels, and at the same time develop camel tourism business.
But the older generation herdsmen did not agree. DaLai, his father, hopes to tame the camel by traditional methods. The difference between the two generation were finally reconciled in the same care of the three-humped camels adopted at home. The desert, camels and humans have begun a reincarnation with each other.
The Taste of Food Delivery
Examining how the food culture is rapidly changing in China through the delivery of a lunch box.
In recent years, China’s takeaway app has become very popular. No matter what time it is, late at night or early morning, as long as people order their mobile phones, hot meals will be delivered to the house immediately. People don't have to travel to other cities to enjoy the delicious local food.
Since then, the food culture and eating habits in China have been altered dramatically.
Kung Fu Football
The comedy film Shaolin Soccer has left a lasting impression on its Chinese viewers. In recent years, a Shaolin football academy has opened in Dengfeng in Henan province, China. Recently, Chinese football has reclaimed the spotlight because of President Xi's great football dream.
Shaolin kung fu also wishes to play a part in China’s quest to become a football powerhouse.
Jinhua ham has been famous all over the world since the Song Dynasty. Jinhua's geographical position is unique. The temperature, humidity and ham are perfectly matched.
However, the biggest challenge in the past decade has been the increasingly unstable weather. The global warming is a big issue to ham production. The ham master can only use more salt to prevent, which directly increases the salinity of the ham. But it also sacrifices part of the taste.
Some manufacturers have built indoor glass roofs that allow the sun to shine directly without fear of sudden rain. Some have installed air-conditioners to keep the temperature low, so there is no need to use excessive salt, while some even use a sealed control.
However, some traditional chefs believe that ham must be in contact with the air before it can be called Jinhua ham, or it will not be produced in Jinhua. In order to save the traditional food of Jinhua ham, a radical reform is beginning.