China: The last masters of Cormorant
In the heart of rural China, Zhong Man keeps alive an ancient tradition passed down for over a thousand years: cormorant fishing. With his trained birds, he navigates the river in search of the biggest fish, relying on trust, instinct and a secret knowledge inherited from generations of fishermen.
This documentary follows the intimate bond between a fisherman and his cormorants, from night fishing on the river to the delicate birth of a new bird destined to join the family. Through Mao, Princess Celeste and the newborn chick, discover a poetic world where humans and animals live, work and survive together according to customs as old as China itself.
A rare and moving journey into one of the world’s most fascinating fishing traditions.
00:00 Zhong Man, the Bird Fisherman
00:23 A Fisherman Like No Other
00:42 His Cormorants Catch the Biggest Fish
02:41 Mao, the Chosen Bird of the Bloodline
03:25 Raised Like a Child of the Family
04:32 A Tradition as Old as China
05:20 The Secret Matchmaker of Cormorants
09:43 Mao Must Choose His Princess
15:11 A Fishing Night That Can Last Until Dawn
16:24 Zhong Man Knows the Best Eggs
21:34 The Baby Cormorant Saved Before Hatching
22:14 Two Months of Watch, Without Sleep
Follow Zong Man, a skilled fisherman preservin
Video Summary
AI GeneratedZong Man is a skilled fisherman who practices the ancient Chinese tradition of cormorant fishing. By meticulously breeding, training, and bonding with his birds, he ensures a successful catch. The narrative follows his process of selecting a champion bird, Mao, arranging a mate for him, and the intensive care required to raise the next generation of fishing companions.