As 2025 draws to a close, wildlife photographer Xi Zhinong marks four decades of documenting China’s most vulnerable species, blending environmental activism with visual storytelling. Since first picking up a camera in 1985, Xi has become a living bridge between humanity and nature, his work sparking crucial conservation efforts across the Chinese mainland.
From Crisis to Conservation
Xi’s career-defining moment came in the 1990s when his footage exposed rampant Tibetan antelope poaching in Hoh Xil – evidence that galvanized national protection measures. This year, his ongoing campaign to preserve green peafowl habitats in Yunnan has gained renewed urgency as climate patterns shift.
Lens as Legacy
Now mentoring a new generation of conservation photographers, Xi recently told KhabarAsia: "When my daughter joined me in filming black-necked cranes last winter, I saw 40 years of work crystallize – not just in protected species, but in awakened hearts." His archive, spanning 87 endangered species, serves as both ecological record and cultural touchstone for Asian diaspora communities worldwide.
Science Meets Storytelling
Researchers credit Xi’s documentaries with providing rare longitudinal data on biodiversity loss, while business leaders point to their role in shaping sustainable tourism policies. As cross-border environmental cooperation gains momentum in Asia, Xi’s work remains central to regional dialogues on ecological preservation.
