Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

 
Birdwatching or bird photographing used to be seen as something only aged people did, with the help from celebrities and a growing interest of nature, more and more young people in China are getting into it. 

On Monday, the topic "Li Xian goes bird photographing in the park again" trended on China's social media platform Sina Weibo after netizens shared a photo of unexpectedly running into the actor at a park, camera in hand, photographing birds. The topic has amassed more than 110 million views and 218,000 comments as of Tuesday. 

Now having about 24.76 million followers on Sina Weibo, the 33-year-old actor became widely known to the public because of his role as leader of a group of online video gamers in the series Go Go Squid! that was aired in 2019. 
 

A few days earlier, the actor had already made waves on Sina Weibo, when the topic "Li Xian joins the grandpas' bird photographing club" made to the trending chart on Sina Weibo. The actor himself also posted some photos of birds that he shot at the park. 

The actor wrote in the post that ever since he started learning photography, he had wanted to try photographing birds, believing that photography should be in harmony with nature. In the past, he lacked both the time and proper equipment. 

But with the arrival of spring and warmer weather, he picked a good day, brought his new gear, and quietly joined the veteran photographers at Beijing's Yuyuantan Park. "Not bad for a first try," he wrote, pleased with his initial results. His post garnered more than 1 million reposts, nearly 700,000 likes. And among the 115,000 comments, some fans praised his patience behind the lens and shared his view that "photography should be in harmony with nature." And some jokingly complimented, "good job, grandpa Li," as when it comes to bird photographing or bird birdwatching, people used to group it with activities like practicing tai chi or drinking tea, calling it an "old man's hobby."

Li was not alone. A closer look reveals that more and more young faces are joining the bird photographing and birdwatching community. And birdwatching has evolved from a niche hobby into a popular activity embraced by the wider public.

According to latest survey results, the number of birdwatching enthusiasts in the Chinese mainland has been growing rapidly, surpassing 340,000 in 2023, more than double the figure recorded in a similar survey in 2018. Statistics from the China Birdwatching Records Center, one of the country's most comprehensive grassroots bird data platform, show that in 2023 alone, the platform had more than 50,000 active users and 3.5 million new records uploaded, reported People's Daily Overseas.

As more young people take up birdwatching, the hobby is being reshaped by the internet. On social media, vivid bird photos with clever captions help bring the beauty of birds to life. Short videos with creative editing and fun sound effects add a lighthearted touch. 

And the star power to bring new blood to this birdwatching community cannot be ignored. After receiving fans' overwhelming applauding, Li shared a second group of photos of birds he shot on Monday. Some netizens said they have come to recognize more and more types of birds through Li's work.   

Local authorities also made efforts to seize the star power in the hope of attracting more young people to join the growing ranks of birdwatchers and bird lovers. 

According to the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks, Yuyuantan Park in Beijing's Haidian district  boasts a rich natural ecosystem, with a total of 297 plant species and 165 bird species that breed and thrive there each year. 

After Li's posts went viral online, the official Sina Weibo accounts of both Yuyuantan Park and Haidian district interacted with the actor on social media, extending a warm welcome to bird lovers.

Li is not the only celebrity who possesses such star power. A wild duck celebrity also pushed birdwatching into the public eye.

Nicknamed Panghu (meaning fat tiger), a solitary Falcated Duck has returned to Beijing's Yuyuantan Park for several winters in a row. With his round body, confident strut and striking plumage, he has become a local celebrity. Each year, fans flock to the park with cameras in hand, eager to spot the "hottest bird in Haidian." Even when Panghu briefly disappears, his followers go searching online and in real life.

Local authorities take advantage of Panghu's fame to educate the public about wildlife conservation. The Haidian district's social media accounts have shared updates about the duck, along with facts about protected species and wetland preservation, an example of how an animal "star" can make ecological awareness feel relatable and fun. 

The excitement was not just about a celebrity's hobby. It reflected something deeper: Birdwatching, long seen as a quiet pursuit for retirees, is now being rediscovered by China's younger generations, and transforming into a new kind of lifestyle trend, Ma Jianwen, a registered counselor of the China Association for Mental Health, told the Global Times.

Parts of the appeal lie in the way that young people are reshaping the experience. Through smartphones, social media and video apps, birdwatching has become a shareable and creative activity. In addition, young people are looking for new ways to connect with nature in their cities. In a fast-paced world, many young people now find comfort in slowing down, waiting behind the camera, and observing the furry friends, added Ma. 

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn