You know the trend that's ruffling feathers across nature, photography, and travel lovers in China this spring?
Birdwatching!
Celebrities are joining in, tourism boards are rolling out bird maps,
and internet users are geeking out over great crested grebes, and that is the name of a bird.
But why are so many people zooming in on birds?
Is it the gear, the glory, or something deeper, like a quiet love letter to nature?
Coming to you live from Beijing, this is Roundtable.
I'm Ha Young.
For today's program, I'm joined by Steve Hatherly and Yu Shan in the studio.
First on today's show, move over cat videos, China's newest influencers have wings.
This spring, birdwatching has gone from quiet hobby to social media sensation, in parks from Beijing to Dalai.
Flocks of photographers, some with pro lenses, others with just a phone,
are chasing that perfect flutter, snap, and post.
What started as a niche hobby among camera-weeding park-goers has now taken flight nationwide,
with tourism bureaus across China rolling out the welcome mat for bird lovers.
So birding is an established hobby among enthusiasts around the world,
but this spring, the buzz, has reverberated beyond the inside circle.
Tell us what's going on.
Well, with the spring that is now in full bloom now in China,
it's not entirely surprising for us to hear that birdwatching or bird photography more specifically has now become this captivating trend that is whipping across the entire country.