Xiong Shengchun (left) watches bird photographers taking photos of silver pheasants at one of his six bird hides in Fengtian village, Fujian province, on March 21.[Photo provided by Chen Liang/China Daily]
Lam Kam-hung developed a passion for bird photography after his superannuation in Hong Kong around a decade ago. During a photography trip to Southwest China's Yunnan province last year, he encountered fellow bird photographers from other parts of China and was enthralled by the captivating images they shared.
One particular set of photographs showcasing the majestic silver pheasants, renowned for their striking long-tailed males with white or silvery-white upper parts, left a lingering impression on him. "They look truly stunning in their diverse natural settings," Lam told China Daily.
He enquired where he could see the birds and was directed to Fengtian village of Yongan county in Fujian province. He obtained the WeChat contact of Xiong Shengchun, a local operator of bird hides and homestays, from his new friends. "They told me that the village is probably the best place to take photographs of silver pheasants," he said, adding that he wasted no time in planning a trip.
On the morning of March 21, he boarded a bullet train in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and arrived in Yongan after a six-hour journey. He was received at the station by a driver Xiong had sent, who drove him to the destination in less than two hours.
That very afternoon, he could immerse himself in the enchanting world of silver pheasants at one of Xiong's six bird hides in the village.
At the bird hide, Lam also had the pleasure of meeting bird photographers from different parts of China. Engaging in conversations with them during breaks between their photo shoots, he soon made new friends.
Xiong calls out to the birds at one of his bird hides.[Photo provided by Chen Liang/China Daily]
One of them is Chen Guangyun. The pensioner from Beijing has been driving around the country on sightseeing tours ever since he retired. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to spend a lot of time in Beijing. It was during this period that Chen discovered his interest in bird photography. In due course, venturing out to bird hides across the country and capturing the beauty of birds through his lens became his hobby.
Like Lam, Chen reached Fengtian on March 21 and was planning to stay there for three days. "Staying three days and visiting eight to 10 bird hides is a standard package for us while visiting the village," he said.
Another photographer Lam met at Xiong's bird hide is "Parrot". The 67-year-old retiree from Northeast China prefers to be addressed by his online moniker. He arrived at the village on March 20 and was surprised to meet three friends, who had just finished their photographic tour and were preparing to leave.
"It's a small world and the village is a must-see destination for us," he said. "One of my friends clicked 1.5 terabytes of photographs here."
After their photo sessions, the bird photographers shared a meal at the homestay run by Xiong Shengchun's brother, Xiong Shengshui. Xiong Shengchun said many of his customers enjoy the meals served by his brother and sister-in-law.
"We charge each customer 10 yuan ($1.37) for breakfast and 60 yuan for lunch and supper," Xiong Shengchun said. "For a photo session at a bird hide, the price is 100 yuan per person."
Seated at the dining table, Lam found himself immersed in conversations with the other bird photographers, a community he had never come across before.
He used the opportunity to find out more about his passion from his new friends from the mainland, jotting down the names of other bird hide locations. He also took from them the WeChat accounts of the operators of other bird hides he might visit in the future. "I will try to visit more sites before I am too old for this," he said.
