Falconer Li Zhongwen displays a peregrine falcon. (Photo/Xinhua)
Ancient falconry culture has been inherited for thousands of years and in a Northeast China village is now protecting the wildlife rather than hunting it.
Yulou Village, located at Changyi District of Jilin City, Jilin province, is called "Yingtun", or "falcon village". Traditional Manchu falconry culture has been inherited there from ancient to current times. Ancestors of the Manchu people -- the second largest ethnic minority in Jilin province -- used to catch wild raptors and train them as hunting partners. But these days the falcon village is attempting to transform from using falcons for hunting into protecting them.
Li Wenzhong, president of an association to inherit falconry culture in Jilin City, said "traditional falconers used to catch wild raptors and train them as hunters, but our organization is intended to rescue the birds and help them to better adapt to the wild." "All these falcons will be set free next spring when it becomes warmer," Li added.
To date, more than 200 injured raptors have been rescued by over 50 falconers from the association and released to the wild. The association has been exploring integration of falconry culture with market demand in recent years, which has stirred up interest in winter falcon performances, now becoming a special tourism product.
