Footprints

​Alai is a renowned contemporary writer in China. Many of his books, such as “Red Poppies” and “Empty Mountain,” have been translated into dozens of languages and published in many other countries. Although the background of each work is different, they all express his feelings towards his homeland and compel readers to think about the meaning of life.

In this edition of Footprints, we’ll meet a member of China’s new generation of farmers, and see how young people like him are transforming China’s farming and rural areas.

​Eighty-four year-old Peppino Cocozza is an Italian-born Swedish businessman. Ever since first visiting China in 1966, he has been a great fan and constant participant in the biannual Canton Fair. Through decades of association with the Fair and China, Cocozza has formed a deep love for and keen insight into the country.

53-year-old Tao Gongming was among the first group of Chinese engineers who were engaged in the research and design of the earliest domestically produced high-speed railway tracks. According to calculations from the World Bank, the construction cost of the Chinese high-speed rail network, at an average of $17 million to $21 million per km, is about two-thirds of the cost in other countries. Behind these data are the unwavering efforts from people like Tao Gongming, who have dedicated their careers to improving the quality and cost efficiency of high-speed rails.

​Fifty-five year-old Zhai Mo is one of the most renowned Chinese navigators, who made the world’s first non-stop circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean with a sailboat between 2021 and 2022. His epic voyage was made possible due to the melting of icebergs in the high Arctic as a result of global warming. Seeing the effects of climate change with his own eyes, the Chinese seafarer has taken as his mission the challenge of reminding people living across the globe to preserve the environment and the planet through concerted efforts.

Wang Wenwang is a master craftsman in the art of woodworking with over 30 years of experience repairing antique furniture and restoring old wooden objects. He has also been dedicated to the collection and preservation of traditional Chinese woodcrafts. After years of efforts, he has amassed tens of thousands of wooden artifacts for display in the museum he established in 2017. Deep down, he believes that the root of the museum's soul is in its educational mission, and the passing down of traditional Chinese carpentry craftsmanship to future generations.

​Native Beijinger Xiao Zhanhang is a dough figurine master and a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor. How does he make a piece of dough an enduring work of art? In the process of inheriting and promoting the art of dough figurine making, what setbacks and challenges has he experienced? Find out more about Xiao Zhanhang’s art journey in this edition of Footprints.

​Sixty year-old Feng Ying is a world-renowned ballerina, choreographer and artistic director. For about five decades, she has overcome one difficulty after another to pursue her dream of dancing. Since 2009, she has served as director of the National Ballet of China, the country’s top ballet troupe. In this role, she has helped it to become a world renowned performing troupe.

Wen Xu is the first Chinese person to complete a solo trek to the South Pole. He has completed the "Three Poles Challenge," which involves reaching the North Pole, the South Pole, and the summit of Mount Qomolangma. As the co-founder of a non-governmental organization, Wen Xu dedicated his on-foot Antarctic journey to bringing greater public attention to the issue of climate change.

For nearly half a century, Yuan Xikun, one of China's most renowned contemporary artists, has devoted himself to promoting ecological and environmental protection through artistic creations. As the United Nations Environment Programme’s first “Patron for Arts and Environment”, Yuan Xikun calls on people all over the world to re-examine our relationship with our planet and work together to preserve the natural world.