Chine : 5000 ans de traditions

Chine : 5000 ans de traditions

Geoffroy and Loïc, two adventurous brothers, decided to follow the course of the third largest river in the world, the Yangtze. In five months of securing on the Tibetan highlands, at its mouth in Shanghai, They traveled more than 7000 km, on motorcycles and tricycles, to discover the link that unites man and water. It is in this deserted station, located on the highest railway line in the world, which connects Beijing to Lhasa, that our adventure in China begins. It took us more than two years of preparation to get here, in the heart of the Tibetan highlands. Our goal is simple, go to meet a mythical river which, like an artery, irrigates the most populated country in the world. “Where is that source?” So The source of life today I don’t know, but if you look around, I don’t see any water, I don’t see a source. Me neither. However, I see there are tourists. I wonder if we’re not on a tourist trap. This is a problem. I’m a little disappointed, Thomas. I’m not going to resign myself to that. Me, I want a beautiful glacier, I want beautiful landscapes. Out of the question, I don’t stop there. Me, I’m tired of having headaches from the altitude. Here we are just above the Toa Toa Uh, which will then transform into Yangtze Kang. Toa toa, Uh, It means the water that whispers. Maybe you can listen, We hear the water murmuring. Ah, yeah That’s crazy The source of the Yangtze is at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, which forces us to acclimatize to the lack of oxygen. At 4500 meters, there are already 50% less oxygen, because the air becomes thin. Result, at night we sleep badly, and during the day we quickly get out of breath. In any case, anyway, The source is there. The source of the Gela Dendong. Gela Dendong, These are the glaciers which are at an altitude of 621 meters. I don’t think we’re going to raise our mouths. But we will in any case go to the foot of the glacier. Today, It’s the big day. We finally found a car to take us up to the spring, about a hundred kilometers from Yangsheping, our base camp. You slept an hour last night, right? I slept for an hour and a half last night. I was green, I wanted to cry. It’s because of altitude sickness. That’s it, It’s not because of altitude sickness. Maybe we’re overdoing it with the tea? Since their tea is full of caffeine or theine? Brief, This is the car that will take us to Galadé. With a driver… Pure Tibetan juice. After 6 hours of driving on chaotic roads, we see on the horizon. The Tangu Lachan massif, whose highest mountain, the Galadendong, peaks at 6621 meters. A short interlude on our journey to the source of the Yangtze, Kang, so towards the Tangu Lachan mountains. We are very lucky, but we have our 4×4 right behind us. And why are we so unlucky? Because the landscapes are fantastic, of course. 5,800 meters of oxygen. 5,800 meters above sea level. This is what makes us breathe, Effectively. The 4×4 drops us off three hours’ walk from the glacier. The road doesn’t go any further. According to the driver, Tibetans locate the source, somewhere in front of us, above the icy peaks of the Tangoulashan Massif. We continue on foot, without asking us any questions, because we have an appointment with the dragon. The Yangtze is there, before our eyes, of several glaciers located in the heart of this massif. So, This is the beginning of our adventure. That is to say, to show. The source of the third largest river in the world, the largest Asian river, which irrigates 400 million people in China. That is to say a third, a quarter of China’s population. Because estimates are a bit off sometimes… It is quite possible to make a connection between the birth of a river and the birth of a human being. The Ring, which is stored in an iced, It’s as if it were stored in the mother’s womb. It’s been about 2000 years, maybe even more. the glacier, the preserve. preserve it to give to China. It’s extraordinary. A five-month trip to China, along the Yangtze, It makes you dream. What motivates us in this expedition, It’s about living an adventure and discovering as we go down the river how essential access to water is in our daily lives. At my house, I turn on the tap and I have water in my glass without difficulty. What about elsewhere? On the high plateaus where we are, access to water is not yet under control. The population must therefore devote a lot of time and energy to obtaining water. And this wasted time is not available to devote to new activities. This way of life is repeated from generation to generation, without possible change. Our motorcycles, These little racing cars 150 cm3 bought for 450 euros each, allow us to be autonomous and have access to the most remote areas. It is also a key to the local population, who, often, has never seen a foreigner, and even less landed on a motorcycle. It’s been a little over 4 days since we left the spring. Our progress is difficult. We rarely travel more than 50 km per day. On the high plateaus, all summer long, The temperature is 16 degrees, during the day, and can quickly drop below zero at night. Last night, We were welcomed by Tibetans. They were asked quite simply for accommodation, which was quite complicated, because they didn’t understand at all. And so, It was by sign. We gave them a little wave from the tent, a little sign of sleep, and can we put our tent somewhere? They understood. And then, They allowed us to put our tent in a corral, which is quite comfortable, because in fact, the valley, It’s a real scree field here. And the corral is made of dried yak droppings, dried or already decomposed. And so it makes a kind of carpet which is quite comfortable, even a good mattress. Well, we have some kind of small polypropylene mattresses, but not very, very thick. It’s not very big, but still very comfortable. Insomnia and headaches due to altitude sickness reminded us of our physics lessons on the effects of altitude, And especially a chapter on water. We learned that the boiling temperature of water is 100°C at sea level. Let’s see if that’s still the case at 4500 meters. We managed to find thermometers, beautiful Chinese thermometers. So, we hope they won’t lie to us. There they indicate 17°C. And these thermometers will allow us to measure the temperature of boiling water. And I arrive at 81°C. Which is definitely not the temperature at which our water boils in our kitchen, In France, at sea level, so at zero meters. However, To kill all bacteria, You need to let the water boil for much longer. Here, Indeed, Tibetans living in the region never drink cold water. Just now, We were invited to drink tea by a Tibetan, And he was asked why he never drank cold water. He told us it makes us sick. So, he was asked if this was a religious tradition, too, if there was anything that was connected. Quite simply, It makes us sick. There is a first thing because of bacteria, and, according to him, There was a second thing, it’s when you drink water that’s too cold, It gives you stomach aches. There remains one mission on this high plateau, it is asking a young person about their experience of water, in order to be able to make a comparison as we wanted to do, between a young man on the Tibetan plateaus, so at the source of the Yangtze, Another one at the level of cities in transition, and another one in Shanghai. Try to be able to make a comparison between these three young people. And show that access to water plays a very important part in their development process, education, of personal development. I agree with you. Qumar Heu Is the first town we pass through since leaving the spring. We decide to stop there for a few days, to take a breather, and meet these Tibetans who still balance between the nomadic life of the high plateaus and the sedentary life. The village owes its existence to the rivers and the presence of a source of drinking water that does not freeze in winter. This is important because the temperature can drop to minus 40 degrees. For 10 years, Qumar Heu is experiencing rapid development thanks to the exploitation of rain resources, water and sand. These two ingredients, added with cement imported by workers from the nearest large city, allow the construction of bricks and therefore the abandonment of the tents traditionally used by nomads. There, This is the village where the bricks were laid. We can see that it is in full swing This village began its expansion in 1998. There were three houses at the time, This is what one of the first people who lived here told us. I believe that today, We can count about fifty of them. And there are 80 families living there, At the time, there were two. The villages of the Highlands have the particularity of being animated by shops where you can find everything. This is where we refuel, in hylio-dried water and, of course, in drinking water. In Qumar Heu, we have our habits in that of Jolie Xin Xoali. Good morning, My name is Xin Xoali. Before introducing my family to you, Let me show you the store. And when I tell you they sell everything, It’s really everything. Fabrics, local fashion clothing, jewelry, batteries, to deal with frequent power cuts, cassettes, audio, porcelain, food and all kinds of drinks. We are touched, because Chincholi is also kind enough to open the door of his house to us. This is my mother. I came back yesterday for vacation. I don’t see her often, because I only come home for one month a year. That’s why I have very little time to spend with her. When I’m at school, I think about my mom a lot. Chinchoali is 16 years old and studies in Xining, capital of Xinghai province. I serve yak milk to those older than me. This is the tradition here in Tibet. It’s very nourishing. It is very precious and very expensive. It must be appreciated and above all not wasted. A bit like water, actually. During the summer holidays, She travels the 1,100 kilometers that separate her from her family and finds here a rhythm of life that she does not have in the city. For fun, and because she secretly dreams of becoming a television presenter, Xin Chaoli agrees to share one of her days with us. You guys are coming, We’re going to get some water. Or rather, carry water. Water collection is a compulsory activity. Let it rain, whether it’s windy or freezing at minus 40, You have to drink, and therefore go to the source. Depending on the family’s standard of living, the journey can be done on foot, by bike, by car or even by motorbike. Xin Xoali’s family has a small cart that allows them to bring back several cans, and therefore only make one refueling per day. In Qumar Heu, The source is located 800 meters below the houses. Except I’m going to be able to help because I think it’s very beautiful. In some villages of the High Plateau, The springs freeze for several months a year. Or even dry up permanently. We must then go further, sometimes up to 4 hours of walking, just to find water. In China, the water chore is done by everyone, young and old, men or women, And at any time of day. Water management is of the utmost importance to us. In my family, there are several elderly people, my mother and my grandmother. They move with difficulty. When I’m not there, It’s my cousin who has to go and get the water all alone. She is often very tired. When she is not there, They have to pay someone to go and get it. It costs 3 yuan each time. If we always pay for water, My family will soon run out of money. There aren’t many young people in the family. SO, We must save water. She is cold, Eh I will never help you again. Each backstroke weighs between 10 and 15 kilos. With the lack of oxygen due to the altitude, It seems even heavier to us. This is stupid, But with tap water, we had almost forgotten this detail. A detail for us who are young and in good shape, but which turns out to be a real handicap for the elderly. This is where the water is stored after being collected. It is a beautiful source of pure water that we have in the village. We all take care not to pollute it, because it is the water we drink. If we pollute it, This will have direct consequences on our health. It’s sauce water, like the one we buy at the store. Chincha Oli takes advantage of a short break to show us his rock idols, the latest fashionable singers. This one is my favorite, I love it. In the city, you have access to running water and you can easily wash your clothes. This is not the case here. We all have to go to the riverbanks to do our laundry. Good, Here we go. You accompany me The last time I came, there weren’t all these buildings on the riverbank. There too, There was nothing. NOW, They are already built. I came home yesterday afternoon for the holidays, I hadn’t seen all these changes yet. I have to get used to it every time I come back, because it changes quickly. The inhabitants of Qumar Heu, who are discovering a new way of life, must face waste management. Before, what they left behind was organic and therefore naturally digested by nature. Today, everything is thrown away as is. Gradually, an organization will have to be established to take charge of waste collection and the supply of drinking water. At Qumar Heu with Xin Xoali, We were able to see and realize how much time and energy the chore of water and laundry consumes. We are also beginning to feel on a small scale the environmental effects of a concentration of people in one place. When you are in town, in your student room, you have running water, What do you do with your time? Save money with running water in Xining. This time and energy, I use it to help others and focus on my studies. I also have more time to exercise and improve my physique. When I have had enough studying, I read books outside the school curriculum. I find them more interesting. For example, I read tales by the Brothers Grimm Robinson Crusoe, and sentimental education. Finally, These are mostly famous works. I find it more constructive. We take our motorcycles again to go down the river with Ushu in our sights, which is a 5 day drive from Qumar Heu. From the source, We have already traveled 750 km. Our lower back pain, saying about the condition of the road and the quality of our seating on these motorcycles. We are in the largest country in Asia. We are following the longest river in Asia. And at the same time… Next to this longest river in Asia, there is the longest mountain range in Asia, the Couloudes Mountains. This is crazy, No Is this funny? We are in gigantism. I was going to say that. However, We do 25 km in 2 hours. That, It’s really not great. You have to see the condition of the road too. Over there, We really feel like it’s falling. There, we are on the high plateaus, then there, all over there, it falls towards Yunnan, Sichuan. And it will descend the 4,800 meters of altitude difference to the sea. It seemed important to us to show you our room, a little bit of what it looked like. So that’s… This is a 45 yuan room, so €4.50. This is what it looks like. So, the carpet is a little bit gross. Well, it’s not great. That’s homemade. And it’s like that all the way down the row, by the way. Uh, I think I’ll avoid Zoom, eh? No, no zoom. But there’s still running water. huh? which is not bad. There’s even hot water. Yeah, There’s even hot water. Well, I really believe how it works. Uh, So, I think so. huh. I think there’s a small oven here. We can still see it, It’s still hot, so they put the coal there. Here is the water tank and it heats up. In the street, Tibetan women wear impressive finery, made of turquoise, of amber and cunning coral. These jewels are an inalienable asset for them. Ushlu is the Tibetan city par excellence. This city was previously part of Tibet. Today, It is part of Qinghai province. For several years now, The central government is also playing the Tibetan card. The city must be transformed into a hospitable hospital. Ah, that’s it You have to try it next door. It’s funny, In fact, It’s money. SO, It’s very tender. All the little tricks you do, fit very easily. The visit to the market leaves us perplexed. And to think that tonight, These black puddings and pieces of meat on which hordes of flies are gathering will end up in our broth. So, here, This is the slightly gory part of the market, that is, everything that is not sold on the other side, I think, arrives here. And then there are the offal too, which are reserved for dogs. The heads told us that it was worth 3 euros and that it was intended for human consumption. We don’t really believe it. And then everything that doesn’t sell and is really too rotten, They throw it straight into the river. And then, there, It’s as much as not drinking the river water. Already, we know it, seeing all the plastic bags, all the rubbish inside, but with that, It’s really disgusting. In Ushu, We are becoming aware of a paradox in our consumer society and our daily use of water. Without caring about those downstream, We throw everything into the water and then hope that it arrives pure in our glass. The highlands are culturally Tibetan. They extend over the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai and Yunnan. Their administrative boundaries are blurred and we sometimes cross them without knowing it. Officially, We are not allowed to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region, Because you need a permit, which is only issued if you are certain to stay in tourist areas. We have just arrived in a small village located on the banks of the Yangtze. We just did 115 km today, We were exhausted and a family took us in. Against all odds, This small village is located in Tibet. Any illegality, since in Tibet, You must have a permit. I hope we don’t have any problems with the police. But I think the biggest surprise, It’s mostly in the house where we sleep. So you’ll see that tomorrow morning. We arrived at night at this house located in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Officially, We should have a specific residence permit. But luckily, No one is there to check. The family is as intrigued by our camera as we are by their way of life. The stove in the center of this room is not fueled by wood, but by yak dung. Every morning, he picks her up in the farmyard, where the Yaks spend the night, Then he sticks it on a wall to dry in the sun. I am at the table with the Tibetan family who welcomed us yesterday. evening. And there, This morning, They gave us a little hat. So they offered us some cha, This is Tibetan tea, which is either tea, with milk, or simply salted tea. And with that, They gave us something quite substantial, which is roasted barley flour, which is ground, which is therefore an extra fine flour, which we will mix with butter and with tea. And we’re going to make this mixture in our bowl and we’re going to make a ball out of it like we see here. And they add Yac cheese, which is dried, like this, it allows to give… We would add grapes, but they add Yac cheese. It’s very, very good, so it’s like bread without yeast and not baked in the oven. On the high plateaus that we have just left, It is too cold and above all too dry to grow cereals. Only breeding is possible there. In the valleys where we are, we begin to see fields of barley. Tibetans use it to make tsampa, parine which serves as the basis of their diet. That’s barley. SO, he comes, we saw it, The fields are already cut. Children, they would eat like that. The wheel, it is irregular. The way to allow this little stick to drop the fat little by little. If he suddenly fell, it would overflow onto the stone and it wouldn’t grind anything. It’s really ground very fine. Very end very end very end very end very end It’s really flour. Extra fine. The question that naturally comes to mind, what makes this wheel turn And I think that’s very much in line with our theme. We’re going to go see the mechanics downstairs. I got it everywhere. So, this is where I find the secret of this mill, which is a hydraulic mill, a water mill. So the water is channeled upstream. The canal brings water here, into this bottleneck and from this overhang, the water picks up its full speed. All his speed to go and project himself onto these wooden propellers which are below. But under the millstone, These propellers are made to a shaft. A tree that drives the stone millstone will grind the barley. The steep slopes of these valleys give the river a strength that finds its use here, where the cultivated barley is to be ground. This is a new service that water provides to man. It adds to those we have seen from the source. The water is drunk, it is used for washing, to evacuate our waste and becomes the driving force for the miller. We have just returned to the Yangtze, which we left before Yushu two weeks ago. We are already more than 1,000 km from the source and are driving towards the town of Batang and its Buddhist monastery. I feel like I’ve found the dragon again, to see its scales. Because for the Chinese, it’s a dragon, because it is powerful. I think it has another name. Also for Tibetans, the river. The drichu. Which means the breast. The crying female yak. It’s very poetic. And there, all the tears of heaven will fall on it. Because there’s a big storm coming. The wind rises, We feel it and you hear it Okay, come on, here we go Let’s go We are a few kilometers from a village where we plan to spend the night. We only have one more pass to cross. Given the panorama, It should be a real pleasure. Unfortunately, Mechanical problems always happen at the wrong time. It was a good thing that this happened to us and it’s funny. I said to myself We’re going to die at the top of this pass, my lips hurt. Didn’t you say that to yourself? No, I thought your bike was going to crash because it was really showing signs of weakness. Well, no. Me, I knew we were going to die. And actually, it’s cool. It allows us to admire this landscape which is, which is sumptuous, sumptuous. The hammer never believed I would use it though. To remove the axle I had to type. Waiting for, We started at 6:30 p.m. and now it’s 8:30 p.m. So it took two hours to change this tire. I think we’re useless. We’ve traveled 500 meters since we fixed the tires. We arrived at the pass and I had another puncture. I looked around badly to see if there was anything. We have to be there all the time. There we are at 5900 meters. And there is a shelter further on, and there you go, We’ll go sleep there and we’ll try without luggage, because I had all the luggage, We’ll see how it goes if I manage to get back to it. I don’t know, I don’t hunt above in the dark anymore, it’s over I have to take it off. What are you going to do with it? Loïc Are you going to go up in pendant? Yes. This little beast, this little pebble bothered us, We’re going to engrave that on there at 5,800 meters above sea level. We’re going to make a little shark tooth like this. Not bad, right? The Col passages are made with the cry of endless bends in the mountain, on dizzying roads. But every pass is a new surprise, because we leave a fabulous landscape to discover another even more magical one. The Yangtze does not flow directly west. He first heads south, parallel to the Batang Our progress is extremely slowed by these successions of stony valleys, where bridges are rare. We fall from time to time, but at low speed, And our falls are cushioned by the thick lining of our coats that we bought to protect us from the weather. In these inaccessible villages which have preserved their traditional architecture, We always find billats which Tibetans love. THE Batang Monastery appears to us as a true bastion. We see all kinds of animals there, left as offerings by pilgrims. We we are lucky to be welcomed there by a living Buddha, or Tulku, who is the superior of the monastery. This is the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Maybe a thousand in fact. Thank you for welcoming us to this Chidogomba Monastery, from the City of Batang. I have a few quick questions for you about water and the spiritual way in which water can be viewed in the Buddhist religion. So we, We tend to say that water is linked to life and I am sure that you may have other visions, precisely, of this link between water and life. In the religion of Shakyamuni Buddha, It is said that water is a very precious commodity. If the water is polluted, living species that drink it can become ill. It can also lead to their death. We offer water to the Buddha with respect, because it has a special place. We pour it into bowls which we place at the foot of each Buddha to celebrate its importance. Unlike other religions, among Buddhists, water has no purifying purpose. On the other hand, she represents matter and feminine principles, terrestrial, negatives, as well as emotions and the unconscious. She is opposed to fire, which symbolizes the spirit, and masculine principles, celestial, positive, as well as the intellect and the conscious. Water and fire together represent cosmic opposites. The life of this monastery, which has 500 monks, follows a regular rhythm, which begins with a morning meditation. The monks also devote a lot of time to the study of canonical works, to collective prayers, as well as the teaching of the monks. Their days are interrupted by meals and housework. But as soon as we arrived, we must leave quickly. Because to reach Shanghai in 5 months, we cannot stay more than 3 or 4 days in the same place. There is something really important to me, It’s the Mekong. Why the Mekong? Is it important? Because quite simply, he is the twin brother. Yang, Zhe, Qiang. Why the twin brother Simply because they were born in the same cradle. Where is it the same cradle Well, it’s the Tibetan plateaus, Xinhai. Can I talk? Ah, well. Go ahead, talk. And what happened is that 30 km ago, There we are following a road on the mountainside, with an elevation difference below 2000 meters, an absolutely fantastic road, and, in the background, the Mekong, We just crossed a superb bridge. And at the top of this road of 30 km… There is a pass and this pass delimits two valleys, the Mekong watershed, the Yangze watershed. This is absolutely fantastic It is important to know that the Xinhai gives rise to the 7th largest river in Asia. So we have just mentioned the Mekong, the Yangtze but there is also the Brahmaputra who goes to India Then there is the Salween which goes to Burma There is the Irrawaddy which also goes to Burma -There is…
-The Indus The Indus, quite. The Indus which flows towards Pakistan. Afterwards, There is the Yellow River. And there you have it, that makes seven. The seven largest rivers in Asia originate on the Tibetan plateaus. It’s crazy to think that. This is why scientists call the Tibetan plateaus, so Tibet, Xinhai the third pole. Third pole. Because it’s a real baric it’s a cistern, It’s a water tower, that’s what you want, because quite simply, There’s plenty of water there. It’s extraordinary. After eight days of driving from Batang, We arrive near the Tiger Seal Gorge. It is the deepest river canyon in the world, with 3900 meters of peak. Legend has it that a tiger leaped across the 25 meters of this pass to escape the hunters who were pursuing it. For us, It is above all a point on the river which is only a quarter of the way through its journey and which allows us to evaluate the full power of the dragon. 50 km away, Another important passage is this turn. Without him, The river would continue its descent towards the Indochinese peninsula. And China would not be as lush. It’s nice, this little sound of streams everywhere. We are finally in the regions where there is irrigation and cultivation of rice and corn, mainly in steps, so on the terrace. So there are little canals everywhere. Irrigation allows several rice rotations per year and significant yields. China needs it, because on its 9.5 million square kilometers, only a tenth is cultivable. The rest is deserts and mountains. Half of the country’s arable land is irrigated, producing, among other things, 180 million tonnes of rice annually. Yes, Of course water is important to us. These problems concern us closely. A little higher up, in the valley, industries extract ore. They are putting pressure on water resources and we may not have enough here for our crops. There will be more and more people and less and less water. Water distribution could be a problem in the future. China’s problem today is economic. A liter of water used in industry yields 70 times more than if it were used in agriculture. This calculation shows that strict public arbitration is required for water sharing. He finished his field and now we’re going to see a silk factory. A factory on silk glasses. They are the ones who do everything. On the other side, there? It’s better to turn around, I think. Here we go. So here I am in the engine room, finally machines. These are the famous caterpillars. It’s funny because these little creatures are very soft to pet. They overlap each other. So this is how it goes. We place a net on the tray, on which we place a bed of leaves. And on these leaves, we will deposit very small caterpillars. Caterpillars eat leaves. Twice a day, we put leaves back in to replenish them. And little by little, they grow. Just 10 minutes ago, I put this sheet down. This is what remains of it. Once they’re done eating, They will start to make their cocoons. Here are the cocoons. Each cocoon is covered with a silk film that is stretched with a machine, rolled up, This will allow us to make the silk thread with which we will weave the clothes. We weave Hunan to make a detour into Guizhou. We will see the work of the French NGO IT, Initiative, Development. Guizhou is one of the poorest provinces in China. She counts, like Yunnan, many ethnicities. The Idea HQ is located in Wining, small town in full expansion, where the arrival of the train in 2004 created a real revolution. Emmanuel Pellocain has succeeded in improving living conditions in the most remote villages over the past five years. The primary demand from the population still concerns the supply of drinking water. We have a little time here, but a goal in time, we will be amazed. The village is only accessible on foot and it takes us more than 30 minutes to get there. These farmers carry ferns that they harvest on the steep slopes and which serve as bedding for the piglets. There, we go to a small village meow in the rain, after a beautiful storm. We will see the project idea which was a water supply project. They went to get water there, behind, in the mountain. They took a 2 km trench which must pass not far from here. Which allows them to bring water from a spring up there to the village which is just behind the hill here. So, and all this in always sensational landscapes. The Miao are one of the largest ethnic groups in China. with more than 9 million people. They are very dispersed over the territory and define themselves as the people of the mountains. The poverty of the villagers surprises us. They live in these mountains, completely cut off from the world and from modernity. The staple food is potatoes cooked on the grill, that children nibble on at all hours of the day. A sign of welcome, And because he equates us with the NGO, All the villagers want to give us a hard-boiled egg, that we rush to discreetly slip into the pocket. Children who are seriously lacking in protein. But the most striking thing is to witness the arrival of water in the middle of the village. What amuses children a lot, who probably never imagined being able to play with each other. We become friends with Jaiyo, who introduces us to his family and invites us to eat rice, luxury food. Because it cannot be grown in these mountains. Formerly, Life in the village was very hard. We had to go down very far into the valley to get water for the jump. We had to come here three times a day. Result, I spent more than three hours every day fetching eight or nine tons of water. The NGO provided the necessary equipment for laying the water pipe. The labor to dig the two kilometers of trench was provided by each family. To bring water to the center of the village, Emmanuel had a major constraint. He was not supposed to use a pump, because its maintenance would have been too expensive. So he went to look for another source higher than the village, on a nearby mountain, which allows the water to flow down by gravity. You came from a very far away country. You have managed to bring water to the village. I never imagined this would be possible through the mountains. What you are doing for us is really great. The fact that the water is so close now, It leaves us a lot of free time to do other things. We spend much less time fetching water. So the time gained, I will use it to work more, to prepare food, pigs, to grind the grain, and also to take care of my wife and baby. The three hours that families will gain daily will help develop crafts, breeding, children’s education and many other things. It’s a whole economy that’s getting going. Good room. I’m sure you said goodbye to them. I said goodbye to them. They accompany us, They want to accompany us. Did we get the meeting? Anzor, it’s coming The villagers returning from market day. You are rather satisfied with the management of the project, of how it can be conducted and all Yeah, It went well. The advantage is that Ajigen is an isolated community, So. On the one hand, they work quite well together, and they are motivated because they haven’t had much… Other strangers or many people who were worried about their situation or arguing with them. They feel dear to have worked there. Even Gao Wu, Gao Wu Gao Xing. Gao Wu Xing, Gao Wu Xing, Gao Wu Xing. Gao Wu, Gao Wu Xing. They said that the punishment, it didn’t matter, What mattered was that they were going to be rewarded with us and they thanked us. Access to water was the priority for the development of this Miau village. Without water, no activity was possible. NOW, They will be able to produce more than just for their survival and open up to trade with neighboring villages. Hocus Pocus, 2006. This is the number of kilometers we traveled from the source to here. But we weren’t on that beautiful asphalt road. We had rotten roads with stones, mud, sand. Good, we will continue because we have 4000 left, I believe, to go down the Yangtze. And it’s not a done deal. Bye Bye The roads we are taking are in better condition. And our progress is faster and less tiring. We now do 300 km in a single day. Looking forward to catching up on a schedule that is quite flexible. The increase The flow of the Yangtze is accompanied by a change in the environment. Factories and cities are becoming more and more common. It marks our entry into a China in transition. From Yibin, the Yangtze becomes navigable, and we often have to cross it, either on a bridge, either in a bin. Reglou Valerie is leaving, it’s mine. We stay like this. It’s resourceful. The river has become gigantic, has become huge. There are Two Rivers that have come together. There is the Yangtze which absorbed Fudan. And it gives this kind of enormous monster. We realized that since the river became navigable, Well, civilization is exploding. These are no longer small towns of 30,000, 50,000 inhabitants, since for China, 50,000 inhabitants, It’s small. These are big cities of 1 million inhabitants, 2 million inhabitants, 3 million inhabitants. Motorcycle question, We are still not in compliance. We have neither driving licenses, nor license plate. But luckily, As far as road traffic is concerned, The authorities are quite tolerant outside of major cities. We see the first towers of the suburbs of Chongqing. Our counters show 4300 km from Switzerland. This is the first time we have entered a Chinese megalopolis. This suburb is nothing but a vast construction site, where towers are sprouting like mushrooms. But what is the real place of water in this galloping urbanization? It is impossible to count the number of towers under construction. Wherever you go in and around the city, You’re going to come across a construction site like this. It seems crazy, but there are only construction sites like this here. Just 5 years ago, It was still the countryside around us. All these buildings didn’t even exist on paper. They were parcels, How’s it going. In all these buildings, we install the operating system. It’s not like the Qinghai highlands. Here, we have more resources to develop. Our meeting with these workers reminds us that, without water resources, building a city is impossible. The mastery allows the construction of buildings made of concrete, which is often referred to as Liquid Stone. At every stage of our work, we need water. Water is used to make mortar, plaster the walls and clean the people. Always need more and more water, it is essential, we couldn’t do anything else. The water used for construction comes from the Yangtze. It is also cleaner than that of the Yellow River, which is an honor of China. And all of Chongqing uses the Yangtze. There is everything without emptiness. This is why it is considered the river-sea. Well yes, What would China do without the Yangtze? We’re not going to go abroad to get water. In France, For example. Chongqing has had the special status of a provincial-level city since 1997. It is directly subordinate to the central government in Beijing. The city, built on hills, is called the City of the Mountains, Even though the maximum altitude is 220 meters above sea level. Behind us and behind the Yangtze, you see? The city of Chongqing, which is the largest Chinese agglomeration, 30 million inhabitants, and which marks for us our entry into the industrial part of China. Above all, it marks the end of our first stage, And this desire also for us to see Chongqing as a city in transition between the developed East and the developing West. The government also wants to make Chongqing, since the Three Gorges Dam was built, a kind of springboard to promote growth, increase growth. From East to West, following the axis of the river. Actually, They will use the river as a highway for growth. Exactly. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam now allows the 10,000-ton ship to reach Chongqing. This is a considerable development in this small province, where manufactured goods from the East and raw materials from the West transit. Thanks to this river highway, the city can also sell its minerals. And all the products that come out of these factories. In Chongqing, we choose to travel on foot or by taxi, to avoid accidents and administrative hassles. The countless stairs of the high relief give us the opportunity to do a little exercise. Because with good Chinese food and motorbike travel, It’s easy to get fat. We love to stroll through these lively markets to appreciate the diversity of products, especially fish, which we had never seen on the highlands. The market is still quite typical, We are not in the most high-rise part of Chongqing. There is also something really important, It’s just that now there are fish. Here, as we have access to water, since there is the river, there is the Yangtze right next to it, and the, I don’t remember the name of the second river, it escapes me, it will come back to me, THE Jialong, we’ll tell you later. Brief, we arrive in the part where there are vegetables, so vegetables of all colors. It’s really impressive to see this diversity of vegetables. Me, there are vegetables that I don’t know, that I have never cooked in any case. I might have already eaten them, because we’ve eaten quite a bit of it since we’ve been here. Oh, yes, there are chili peppers, I hate chili peppers. This is a famous display where we have lots of different eggs. Here, there are the famous hundred-year eggs, which are eggs that are coated with fire ash and left for a month or more. There, they are peeled. There, There are duck eggs. There, These are eggs from chickens raised in the countryside. And there, These are industrial chicken eggs. There are many differences. They are all at different prices. It’s quite funny. Chongqing enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, hot and humid. We are stranded in our hotel by exceptional rainfall that is causing flooding and landslides throughout the province. In town. The phenomenon is impressive, because the layer of concrete covering the ground amplifies runoff and causes saturation of the drainage networks. It’s a mess, It’s harvest season here, and raciocin. We donated our two motorcycles to an NGO and for a change, we wanted to have a little fun. We’re going to buy a tricycle. It also seems interesting to us to be closer to the population. Like the two motorcycles. and of From Chongqing to Shanghai, we’ll boost this tricycle. Well, we’ll go buy it there. Hello, we want a tricycle, No, we don’t have any, No, they don’t have a tricycle, Candy, but we don’t have any THE tricycle, a kind of three-wheeled motorcycle, is the most popular means of transportation in the Chinese countryside. Over there, from a simple platform to a highly advanced bodywork for making a taxi. Let’s look for the cheapest and lightest one. I decided she’d put her head in it. In fact, it’s to say that we signed together and we’re going to buy it for 700 euros and 700 euros. He’s going to give us helmets, he’s going to lift our spare parts, all that to help us pretty cool, the guy to order it, they need 4 days of lead time, but there, they called the factory. And the factory wants to work tonight and next night so that we have it Friday. Knowing that it’s Wednesday, They are quite nice. These few days of respite still give us time to visit the city. We take the opportunity to try to meet two students with whom we could talk about water. We are still in Chongqing, it’s modernity, music, people are dancing in the street. At lunch, We met students. We’re going to launch a challenge, have a ping-pong tournament, And it’s going to be China versus France. So, just in case, If we lose, we have an excuse found. We can’t keep our common racket. The Chinese all have amazing phones that are cameras, cameras and radio. They love to film a stranger and especially to pose with him. This popularity, unfortunately temporary, flatters our ego a lot. It’s much simpler than any other. What do you prefer to study later? As far as I’m concerned, I would like to work in software development. Me, I would prefer to be a civil engineer. Me, I think I’m a special case. I like a lot of things. I like everything related to management, to finance, to architecture, to computers. This is very silly, but I like almost everything. I still don’t know why. strange, I enrolled in Sichuan Agricultural School. From what you tell me, I understand that you and your brother are interested in the water issue. But here, we are very close to the bound flame and we do not lack water. Which is why we don’t pay attention to saving it, because we don’t lack it. However, I know that many countries are short of water. Is this also in France or in France? Actually, It also depends on the regions. There are regions in France where there are water shortages. And it’s not really a quantity problem in France. Maybe a little bit in the south, in some central regions. But it is above all a problem of water quality. And that, It’s the same problem all over the world. Do you think the Yangtze River will play an important role? And why? The Yangtze, This is the land of China. He plays a vital role for our country. Without the Yangtze, There would certainly not be enough drinking water for most Chinese people. I feel that the comfort of modern cities makes us not pay attention to water and waste it. In our parents’ time, They had to carry water. In a way, they were obliged to regard her with respect. For us, today, It’s the glass. Access is easy, we neglected it. I think that sooner or later we will have to deepen our knowledge of water, in order to better save and protect it. Meeting these young people allowed us to see to what extent the Chinese are aware of owing everything to the Yangtze, which they literally call the river-sea. Do we still have this awareness in Europe? We were also surprised by the link they made between comfort and waste. At our place, We are clearly too spoiled. Our generation has never known shortages, and don’t imagine that it is possible to live by consuming less water. Comfort comes first, often to the detriment of our environment. In town, Water is increasingly involved in our daily lives. And yet this is where she is most in danger. Water management in a city is done in two stages. First, it must be carried pure into every home, then it must be recovered. worn out. To treat it before releasing it into the environment. If the wastewater is not treated and returns polluted to the Yangtze, the artificial lake of the Three Gorges Dam, located downstream from Chongqing, will turn into a dump. The Chinese have no choice. They must act quickly, because the dam is already underwater. Water requires colossal infrastructure work. They are to be done in new constructions, but also in the old ones. Here, For example, in this old neighborhood, The city is installing meters on the drinking water network and a sewer network that was obsolete. To see what resources the City is equipping itself with, we will meet engineers from Sinosfrench, a water treatment company. Yi Changchun designs the pipeline networks for water supply and sewers. The transport of water in content is essential for the proper functioning of a city. Without our profession, urban development would be impossible, because any area under construction requires a water supply. We draw a pipeline network based on plans of buildings and residential areas. In China, We are considered pioneers, because our work begins long before the first kick. A city’s water pipeline network can be likened to the blood circulation of the human body. Yi Changchun then introduces us to Li Jiangzong, who has worked here for 25 years. He is regarded with great respect within the company. Many neighborhoods and industries owe their running water to him. From here, We have a beautiful panoramic view of the water treatment plant. The treatment of Chongqing City, It provides for about a million people. The municipality brought in a French company for water treatment. Its advanced technology allows it to save time and be more efficient in welcoming more than 1,000 new residents every day. Yes, of course, without water, Chongqing would be a dead city. Can you imagine the millions of city residents fetching water directly from the Yangtze or the Jialing? It’s impossible. In the early 80s, The available water supply was insufficient due to the high demand from the growing industrial sector. I remember that I had to arbitrate the distribution of water between the city and industry myself. Why I turned off the water tap in one place To open it to another. At the end of the 80s, The Chongqing government has invested heavily in building toilet treatment plants. For example, Our factory, which is one of the largest in China, can provide 360,000 m3 of drinking water per day. For several years now, with the means implemented and the new standards, We were able to increase the quantities of water available, improve its quality and protect the resources made available to us. In my opinion, Drinking water plays a vital role in the economic development of a city and improving the standard of living of its inhabitants. Water pollution is a common problem affecting China, but also the rest of the world. Formerly, the situation was much more serious. But the major projects launched by the government in recent years have enabled better control of pollution. For example, on the banks of the Kialing River, several reservoirs were built to collect wastewater, and thus protect the river. Water supply and resource protection cannot be achieved without rigorous organization, based on advanced skills. Today, human activities, whatever they are, still too often discharge wastewater directly into the Yangtze. Which, downstream, penalizes all the towns that depend on the river. Quite unexpectedly, Our tricycle salesman turned out to be friends with the factory manager. He therefore suggested that we go directly there to pick up our new carriage. We thought we were visiting a fully automated factory. But it is with surprise that we see workers working the chain. They grind, stamp, open up and can manufacture tricycles by the thousands. Last message on the photo, for the torpor. And then put the bank. And that’s good, We stop. Last message on the photo, for the torpor. And then put the bank. Stop, Stop The tires need to be deflated. Our red disciple is much less discreet than the motorcycles. We say Chongqing is happy with our acquisition, but with a little apprehension, because we are still without license plates and without a license. Fortunately, The roads are now excellent. But will it last? Recent floods have caused numerous landslides on roads. But when there is no road, the tracks are destroyed by trucks. Unlike motorcycles, we can’t fall anymore. Three wheels, It’s much more stable. Finally, stable. Luckily we moved up to 200cc, well we would have had a bit of trouble… With the tricycle, The motorways are forbidden to us and the fear of the police makes us avoid the main roads. We are speeding towards new encounters. And landscapes which, without a doubt, will still surprise us a lot. We are heading towards the Three Gorges, where the largest dam in the world was built. After two days of struggling in the mud, We are back on roads where our progress is faster. We find a new organization in our tricycle, one driving while the other is in the back. This vehicle is just as tiring as motorcycles, because the noise is deafening and the lack of shock absorbers is a real torture. The first flooding of the Three Gorges Dam, in 2002, created a 660 km long artificial lake and caused water levels to rise by 145 metres in a few weeks. There, it is the rising waters of Uance, a barrier of infantilization. That’s a village. That’s a village. It’s true that it looks like a remnant of the universe. This village, located in the valley of an outflow of water, will be engulfed in 2008 by the second rise in water levels, which will raise the lake level to 175 meters. Residents are busy dismantling houses, brick by brick, to go and rebuild them. Higher up. Since 1992, date of start of construction of the dam, The Chinese reshaped the flood valleys. Everything had to be rebuilt higher, villages, cities, roads, bridges, But it takes time and there is still much to do. In all, There will be 30,000 hectares of arable land lost and nearly 2 million people displaced. He got water in the radiator. Actually, he has no one. The tricycle is already playing tricks on us. We have to stop every hour to refill water. Can I have some water? THANKS. Where are you from ? From France. You don’t speak English well? Yes, just a little bit. Just a little bit Why did you come here? For what Because we come from Chongqing and we are going to Shanghai. Of Tangulashan, to Shanghai. Yes, I know. It’s for wood No, It’s for the car. I’ll put the water in the car. She is only three days old, the motorcycle. She is already completely ruined. On the Yangtze, there is always a monumental bridge. And when there isn’t one, It is being built. So, we cross by ferry. It has been more than three months since we left the source on the Tibetan plateau. We have traveled 4,700 kilometers. We are only six days away from one of the major stages of our journey, the Three Gorges Dam. We have had great success with the tricycle, but I don’t believe it. They often tell us “How? You want to go all the way to Shanghai in this small vehicle?” But it’s impossible, it’s very, very far away, The roads are in very poor condition. They don’t understand our choice not to be in a big 4×4 with a driver. Well, What was to happen when arriving, It’s about being arrested by the cops. And it’s funny because… You don’t care about us. If, they know they want to get rid of us, it is quickly possible. Because in fact, they are no longer on our part. They are never, They had been there in the police for 20 years, us guys. They never had, in 20 years, Foreigners who were driving without license plates, without a license, so in a completely illegal manner and transporting someone else as well. And since they like the project, because we explained to them that we were going down the Yantze, They want to allow us to continue. So it was a question of stopping us, to take and sequester the car. But in fact, they don’t want to do it. And it seems they want to get rid of us and push us out of the province as quickly as possible. So, there, we find ourselves doing forced tourism, It’s very nice. The stones used to build this building were recovered from houses in the old town located there. And they made it possible to build this kind of fortress that allows all the tourist boats to land here. This is the city of what, Geoffroy Fenji. Fenji, the City of Fenji. So, here, The Three Gorges Dam flooded this entire ancient city and will rise to the 175-meter level seen here, that is to say, it still has to climb about twenty meters. And there you have it, We see a tourist boat arriving here and mooring here. We will soon be flooded with Chinese tourists, mainly, because the Three Gorges Tour is mainly done by Chinese tourists. The tricycle is not approved for transporting people in the rear. So we have to separate. There, driving the tricycle, Murder in the police van. They are escorting us back to the exit of the province from the construction site, even in the eye fire. They give us a little tour and the interior, It’s the throat retro. And the water is already at a height of 145 meters and must reach 175 meters, as we saw just now. To ensure our safety, The police officer decides to escort us with his flashing light on to the exit of the jurisdiction. It’s rather surprising, It’s nice, because he didn’t know what to do with us, he couldn’t seize our car. We are made to be served and there is no law for that. And so we continue the adventure. Banzara We We are now only 130 km from the dam. And despite the fright we had, This arrest did not waste our time. But we thought we had to continue by bus. The road no longer runs along the Yangtze. Unfortunately, we cannot see the first two gorses. Down, It’s Wushan. Finally, there is also Lévis, as you saw. Wushan, It is the last big town before the Three Gorges Dam. SO, It was completely flooded and it was raised from 175 meters high, so 100 meters, since the waters have risen 175 meters. Since 1992, The city was moved and rebuilt. Higher up, bigger and more modern. In 2002, The artificial lake has erased all traces of the old one. We’ll see what it looks like. A new man. That is to say without a beard, without hair. It’s not bad though. We want to see, but the most perplexed will surely be the fishermen. It’s true that the Chinese are rarely big hairs. Here, The custom is to do a long shampoo massage before cutting. And it massages so hard that you’re afraid of leaving all your hair there. First time, you will be more comfortable. What is your name? My name is Garni. And you’ve been a star, hairdresser, for a long time, Garnished? I’ve been working for a year now. And why did you choose this profession? This is going to sound silly, But I am happy to see the good people who came to us leave. I can’t have it if I’m here. I really like this job. It allows me to earn quite a bit of money. Even though money isn’t everything in life, I think it’s important for the fruits to earn enough to be independent. Can you show where you get the water? Come and see, This is where I am taken. Quite simple. You must be careful to fill the small bottle completely. Ah, no, It comes out of the tap. That’s really the only thing. We wash our hair, we wash our hands. And you see what, how, SO ? Why is it coming from that machine you see over there? It is a purifier. The water flows here in this bottom. It works like a fountain. But the water that comes out is pure. Be careful not to see the water until it has been filtered. You, drink it Ah, THANKS. It’s nothing. When I was little, about one or two years, there wasn’t even any ironing water in our heat. Since I moved to the city and got older, Access to water is much easier with the current. You just have to be careful not to drink it straight from the tap, because it is not boiled. You can get sick in the bubble. It’s true that it’s still simpler than it was back then. Good, your turn. It cannot be taken away from… Oh, How’s it going. For you, After, it is a I perceived, it’s a… That, It’s another habit. When cleaning the ears. Horrible. Never accept this panipon. No, It’s good. Not bad. You have silky hair, It’s good. Let’s go Come on, here we go It is already 10pm and Yuanli has finished his shift. She suggests we go and visit the apartment that the hair salon makes available to its employees. It’s there. Is it up there? Yes, Yes. We are on the sixth floor. The building looks like it dates back to the last war, while he is less than 15 years old. Everything is limited to the bare minimum. The walls are simply covered with plaster and the floor is cement. Hello Hey, move over, Make some space. There are four people here. There is one that is not there. He has no business being there. He lives on the other side. He came to joke with us. It’s not true, I live there. She’s the one who rules here. We’re all afraid of her. She is the one who guides us. She is the boss. Me, I am deputy chief. Me, I don’t have the right to speak. I was the one who said that people, I am here. Who’s the mom here? I am the cook. You do good things. Of course, You see how much bigger I’ve gotten since I’ve been here. I am fat, He is super tall. It would suit me well if I could be as tall as him. I ate a lot of soup when I was little. So, it’s normal that I’m very small. I didn’t eat much soup. What do you want? I feel like a dwarf in front of a giant. For wash yourself, It’s in the hallway. Ah, you want to see this I don’t see much. I’ll enlighten you with my cell phone. So that, It’s hot. You see, we heat it with its coals, She is brunette. Afterwards, we mix it with cold tap water Like that, you can wash with it. Afterwards, we put all that in a jump And then, we’re going to wash in the bathroom. Actually, She lives right across the street from her hair salon. As a result, What’s it like to see the Yangtze every morning? The morning I wake up and see the Yangtze through the bathroom balcony, It warms my heart. Here is the day before I was not happy, seeing the next morning, makes me forget all my sorrows. Thanks to him, I wake up with joy every morning. It is beautiful in the morning with its mist Do you want to film me again? Hold, I put them back. Do you want to fight with me? There is no chance, It’s that it smells. Leaving Yuanli, we have a new definition of the term running water In this recent city of 600,000 inhabitants, Most buildings often only have one tap per floor. And the water there is not drinkable. Despite everything… It is a luxury for anyone who comes from the countryside. From Wushan, We are now only a day’s drive from Yichang. We have to meet an engineer who is working on the dam. 10 days and 520 km already separate us from Ochongqing. We haven’t had time to repair the tricycle’s radiator yet. But now, we are much better organized. We manage to recharge it without stopping. What’s it like there? You don’t actually see the road. Actually, I can’t see the road. And bend down then, you have to bend over. I have to bend down. It’s still not the child anymore. So, here we are going to arrive at the last of the Three Gorges. When we go down the river, It’s absolutely beautiful. It is the only one accessible by road. There, We are in front of the last gorge going down the Yangtze. The two previous ones, we couldn’t see them, Alas, Finally, we saw them from afar. And there, we are lucky enough to pass a road that runs alongside these last gorges. And which will take us directly to the dam. The artificial lake causes a slowdown in the flow of the river, which allows time for the waste to settle. In some tributaries, The flow rate is so low that green algae have already proliferated and suffocated all forms of life. But this death is not inevitable. It is imperative that all water be treated before being discharged. And here finally is the monster, which blocks the Yangtze over 2 km wide. In Yicheng, we are welcomed by Liao Huasheng, an engineer working on the construction of the dam. Thanks to him, We have access to areas that are prohibited to the public. Above all, he will explain to us in more detail the reasons for this very controversial achievement. I feel like I’m at the sea there. Yes, It’s true. It’s a bit similar. There are a lot of waves. Because the water is released with great force from the dam. And there, What we see there, It is… It’s just for another one that is surplus to more than the game period actually. Yes, quite. The water level upstream of the dam must be regulated. When there is too much water, The technicians open the valves to abandon it. This is what we did after the flooders in Chongqing about ten days ago. The idea of harnessing the waters of the Yangtze began in 1921 with Sonia Tsen. The aim was to limit the damage caused by flooding downstream and in the middle of the beach. It is important to realize that the Three Gorges Dam has significantly reduced the risk of flooding in these areas. We went from once every 10 years to once every 100 years. It also has the advantage of producing a lot of electricity while discharging the excess water. In the 20th century, The Yangtze River floods caused the death of 300,000 people, millions displaced and billions of yuan in damage. At the end of 2008, date of completion of the work, The output of the dam’s hydroelectric power plant will amount to 22 gigawatts, Which corresponds to 10% of China’s annual consumption and which will reduce coal combustion by 50 million tons. These are the main arguments of the defenders of the dam, and probably the best. But aren’t there other ways? In China, The Yangtze is called the golden canal, because river paper is developed there. When the dam did not exist, At certain times of the year, the river level was too low. The boats were forced to stop. Since the construction of the dam, This problem is solved. Even large ships of 10,000 tons can easily go up the river to Chongqing, which makes navigation smoother. This allows development to move from the East Coast to the interior of the country, and in particular in Chongqing. By car, we will cross the dam and go upstream, in front of the locks. We would like to stop, But the site is heavily guarded by the army. Everything has been done to promote river traffic which should open up western China. A five-level lock system for vessels weighing 10,000 tonnes and a lift for vessels weighing less than 3,000 tonnes, allows the vessel to cross the 120 metres of open water in less than an hour and a half. Why was the construction of this dam a symbol for China? And at the same time, an economic necessity like the Great Wall was a necessity to defend the country from invasions. Mongols You have to put yourself in the shoes of the Chinese of the time. Building the dam was a unifying dream for Nukus. When the first strike was given, We felt that this dream could come true. Given the essence of its construction and its impact in the world, It’s true that we can consider it without any problem. Like Tintin’s The New Wall. It was over the great dam that the first official divisions took place within the government and the party itself. But it remains the symbol of the country’s power and independence, who will not shy away from any sacrifice to consolidate its growth. Whether we are for or against, now that it’s built, The only alternative is to do everything possible to avoid an ecological catastrophe. Being optimistic, The dam can even be seen as an opportunity for the Chinese. They are now forced to treat their wastewater if they want to prevent the death of the lake and the river. So what’s going on? A good quarter ago, because… It’s not my fault. If we’re stuck here, because there is a narrative. So, proof that it’s flooded… We are still quite far from the bank with the plants and they are completely in the water. And then, behind, we see trees that are completely in the water. There are two options, we have to get the truck up, electricity in a truck or go 100 km further. I’m the one asking what she wants to do. Frankly, we want to put it in the truck, They said it was 100 yuan, that’s 10 euros. And make the detour, It makes us 400 km. We didn’t even try to see if it was possible to carry it over the bridge. With the passerby’s permission. We saw that authorization was required, So we’ve been making the decision for an hour. Ah, that’s it, it’s mounted, It wasn’t very complicated. He We have 1200 km left to travel to reach the end of our journey. We expect to reach the mouth in less than a month. Our cycle is finally running smoothly. For 30 euros, We had a brand new radiator installed. Fortunately, because the temperature is approaching 40 degrees. We are entering the richest part of China and we will see that water, more and more useful, must be managed over time. So here we are in Wuhan, in front of the city’s Institute of Hydrobiology. We haven’t yet looked at the species that lived in the Yangtze. And we’re going to do so with someone who will introduce us to all of this. Good morning, delighted. Delighted. The Yangtze has 350 different animal species, of which 140 are endemic. Among the most famous, we find the sturgeon, which can measure 7 meters and weigh 700 kg, and especially two species of mammals, The Dolphin and March 1. In 2006, Professor Wang Ding conducted an expedition on the river to count the number of individuals. The verdict is frightening. The dolphin has indeed disappeared. It is in danger of extinction due to human activity. The main friends are fishing, navigation, hydraulic works and, of course, pollution. These two baby dolphins you see there are a typical example of the impact of human activity on its environment. The Yangtze River Basin Development Department expanded the waterways using explosives. Result of the operation, 4 of China’s oprins killed death, 2 pregnant females. These two embryos were able to be extracted from the females. They did not survive. Isn’t there a man missing somewhere who could succeed in disappearing if we don’t do something, quickly? We hope it never happens. If the Dourfin has disappeared from the Yangtze, This means that the ecosystem and environment of the river are in danger. This means that in the long term, the man is in danger. It is important to remember that the Yangtze basin feeds 40% of the Chinese population and generates more than 60% of the country’s wealth. There is therefore a contradiction to be overcome in today’s world. On the one hand, protecting biodiversity and, on the other, promoting growth at all costs. Our mission has serious consequences for future generations. Universities are the only entities that study our environment, for what it is, to understand it and to better protect it. Thank you so much, Professor Wang. You are welcome, you are welcome. I hope your mission is a success. Thank you. I hope your expedition will tell us a real success. The professor’s goal is not only the study of river species. He sees the Yangtze as a whole, also including man, whose civilization lives and develops thanks to the contributions of Slovene. There, I am in the water of the Yangtze. It’s a little crazy because I’m in Wuhan, which is a city of 10 million inhabitants. And I don’t think they all have water purification before flushing their toilets. But there is a little watermelon smell. Maybe there are a lot of people who lived off their watermelon in the water, anyway. I’m going with you, my wife. By dint of going around the boats, We make friends with a fishing family who invite us to come back early the next day to spend the day with them. You are lying We are quite excited, because since then, Chongqing, we often asked the ferries to take us on board, But they always refused. If they are not accredited for tourism, They are strictly forbidden from having foreigners on board. I can tell you that we are very happy because the land fishermen, it’s their job, that is, instead of catching fish and catching peaches, They offered us to come and spend a day with them. It’s because it’s a great service, It’s quite extraordinary. They offered it to us spontaneously, we spoke with them, They were told that we were interested in people who lived off the water, who lived with water. Finally, I am really very happy. This is a joke! He was beautiful, well seen doing this morning in the river. The technique seems simple, but the current is very strong and the river bottom is not really smooth. Once the magnet is thrown, it descends to the bottom and drifts with the current. It then takes great skill on the part of the pilot to keep the boat in the same place and allow the fishermen to escape with their ropes when the magnet attaches to a piece of iron. To catch fish, it’s much easier and more fun. Magnet fishing, it’s much more physical, But both require hands. When the mountains stick to a piece of iron, the rope reacts. We feel it immediately with our hands. You have to go slowly because if you pull too hard, the mounts come loose and lose their piece. Really, It’s bad to plaster. Some areas are richer than others, around bridges, for example. Because when they were built, workers throw or drop pieces of iron. But as they are, who increase, people are throwing away less and less. These tidal boats at the quay are real floating villages. For fishermen, They have the advantage of throwing everything into the river, father, including. It took us three days to pull our best catch from the bottom. It was a cylinder about this big, about one meter in diameter. A person could get into it. We used the effort of our three boats to be able to treat it. It weighed five tons. We were happy. It’s like we found a wallet on the floor. When we started this job, in In 1980, used iron was systematically thrown into the river. In one morning of fishing with three boats, at least a ton of iron could be recovered. In 15 years old, the price of iron has more than anything. It is therefore becoming rarer. Today, A good iron can sell for 2 yuan per kilo. And in France, Are there rivers like that? In France, it exists, but not as big. A river this big, it doesn’t exist. The Yangtze, it is 6500 kilometers. We are working on the largest river. We can be proud. It is the third largest river in the world. The evening, We’re stuck eating with the rest of the family. But luckily, We will not eat the catch of the day. Come on, come, we eat It all looks good, No He doesn’t eat spicy food Hold, you can taste this! It’s good And it’s not spicy! We left Wuhan early in the morning to avoid encountering overzealous police officers. It is true that, without a plate and without a license, Driving in the city is a bit risky. In the plain, The Yangtze can be several kilometers wide, so much so that we cannot see the other bank. In the villages, water is not yet distributed by the municipality. There are then wells on the street, accessible to all. But many houses also have milk. It’s noon and it’s already 40 degrees. We decide to stop in the village of Meijié for lunch. The family who run the restaurant is very welcoming. After the meal, their daughter, Yang Mengjiao, offers to show us around his house. Yes, This is the room of. Here, we take a shower. There, It’s the toilet. There is also a sink for washing hands. The water we use comes from here. Simply operate this pump to ferment the water. Oh yes, She is very fresh. It’s from the ocean. The hand pump is used to wash meat or vegetables. My body will also install an electric pump that goes up to the roof. Once up there, it passes through a solar water heater. Thanks to this, you collect hot water throughout your house. It’s more enjoyable when you take your ripped. These are the famous solar panels. They heat the water for the shower. The tank you see there, It is used to store water. It’s good, there is quite a bit of water. Solar water heaters are very common in China, because their energy consumption is zero. But then, We, I owe it here, Is it directly drinkable? No, No, it is not drinkable, even if you are in the field. I’m going to treat it so I can drink it. As a treatment, we boil it, and then we can drink it. Well That’s a bit like it. Hold, touch, It’s a hot cork. A slap, We store it in this thermos you see there. As soon as we are there, we pour ourselves some tea. They are eels, you know No, No. There Meeting this family gave us the opportunity to see that running water is not always drinkable. And this is the case for 75% of Chinese people living in the countryside. We cover the 300 kilometers that separate us from the province of Shanghai in two days. We are going directly into the Yangtze estuary, in Changming, an island of one million inhabitants who live mainly from agriculture and fishing. We are with two students from the University of Ecology, Wang Haipeng and Li Chang, who will present their projects to us, as well as the University Nature Reserve. We are 45 minutes from Shanghai, on an island called Changming, where the government is carrying out several pilot village projects, which are ecological villages. And we, We’re going to see what’s going on at the water level. THANKS. Bye. Bye. These pilot villages were built with the aim of being completely independent in terms of water and energy. Li Chang invites us to see the method used for the ecological treatment of water, by bacteria and by the rhizosphere, that is to say by the roots. Such treatment is valid for a village with sufficient surface area. But is it possible for the water of a large city or that of industrial zones? The water is clean, you see. And she doesn’t feel anything either. On the island, The government’s next step is to create an ecological city of 500,000 inhabitants, near the Dongtan Nature Reserve. Wang Haifeng takes us there to talk about Chinese development. Do you have this feeling of living in a pivotal time where either the Chinese dream will continue, either he will fall into horror? And if the Chinese dream turns into horror, This means that the whole world is also falling into horror. The Chinese are facing a situation today that does not give rise to much optimism. But I think history repeats itself. It is inevitable that our country will first go through the stage of pollution, then by that of waste treatment. You have some things you can’t do. For example, in a megalopolis like Shanghai, When you pass the threshold of 6000 dollars per year per inhabitant, you can start investing in environmental protection. We are on the mountainside. Without knowing whether to go up or down. I think we have to overcome our fears in order to move forward. There is a fashionable phrase that illustrates this paradox well. Growth brings happiness and damages the environment. It pains us. But you don’t get anything for nothing. Yes, nothing for nothing. After crossing all of China, We realize that our planet will not support only one billion. Six hundred million Chinese consume as much as Westerners. Fortunately, The Chinese seem willing to pave a new path for future generations. We finally arrive in the city of Shanghai, where we have an appointment with Wang Gaifeng. We decided to give him our principle, because he works as a volunteer in an NGO that helps farmers on the island of Chongqing. So, you are responsible for the keys on the bunch. Yeah, ok. I hope you don’t turn the method into blood. Oh, no, No, I can’t. On the other hand, we are studying it very seriously. Yes, I’m sure of that. Wang Haifeng must, unfortunately, leave us. So we go with his friends… We’ll take Let it be, It’s always very simple to sing, it’s the same. Let it be. HAS Shanghai, We have lots of things to see. Asia’s largest petrochemical center, the mouth of the Yansé, the end of our long journey, And the city center where the tallest building rises to 492 meters. The main petrochemical industries have been grouped in this area, where they have easy access to the sea, and where their effluents are collected, analyzed and treated in a specific manner, to prohibit any risk of pollution. We have an appointment with two engineers from Sino-French Water, the water treatment company. I got you a crate, I think we had to put that in. Ah, THANKS. We return for the visit of the treatment plant of Siena French. SO, It is located within Skip Park, so there is Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park. It’s not to read me, In fact, it’s to protect me, because we’re going to the lab. I’ll try. Ah, you’re really a… Here are the different wastewaters that we treat and which are discharged by industries. Won’t you taste it for me? No, I can’t. There are a lot of pollutants in there. Most of these factory effluents are extremely toxic. In the mountains of Fong-Wu-Lan-Shan, There is no chemical plant. So we can’t find all these white poles. Wang Xiaoxi is the director of the laboratory, The Tel, which certifies the proper progress of water treatment. The water is very polished. Because it provides a little more service here than in the mountains when it was purchased. It is therefore vital to manage it sparingly and serially. Our mission is to adopt methods that rely on advanced technologies to immerse this wastewater so that it can be reused and thus make our development sustainable. Ning Jing specializes in the bacteriological treatment of effluents, And she’s going to show us that up close. I don’t understand why the water coming from this industrial area is so brown. It is a biological treatment basin. The principle is to use bacteria to digest water pollutants. We call these activated woods. There are glory nut and light brown weights. I was looking for you. I am here, pushing from the river. It took us 5 months to get here. It’s impressive to realize that there, It’s teeming with boats. There are plenty of them, there are dozens of them, hundreds. Shanghai, It is the third largest port in the world. And they’re coming to build one outside of Shanghai to make Shanghai the world’s leading port. That is, they built a deep-water port. It is on Yanshan Island, off the coast of Shanghai, that China has begun construction of the world’s largest port. It will be completed in 2020. Today, The port can handle traffic of more than 4 million containers per year. In the long term, This figure will increase to 20 million. To transport containers by truck, The Chinese built the Donghai Bridge in three years, the longest in the world at 32.5 km. Faced with this future largest port in the world, which is at the mouth of the Slovre, We are becoming more aware and we can no longer accept this idea that there is a tracking highway. Here, we have the mouthpiece, we have Shanghai, and the tracking highway that will bring back… Thanks to this flank, growth towards the West and towards the Tibetan plateaus. What did you discover during these five months of expedition? Go down this river and the source which is in Shanghai, It’s a bit like going back 200 years and reliving for five months what we in France experienced in 200 years, in terms of access to water, in any case, that is, rediscovering what people were doing, our great-great-grandparents when they went to fetch water from the well. Every day, And for some, the foot was further away than for others. And then rediscover the first access to water, the first tap in the village, and ease, And then the first faucet in the house, and so really there, luxury, Short, It’s incredibly easy. And then, when the extra water arrives at this tap which is disposable, there, it is inconceivable for a large part of the planet, While for us in France it seems so natural, And we don’t even know where it comes from anymore. From the tap, she is pure, sometimes it’s even hot, we can drink it directly, but it’s moving a little bit. So, for you, Geoffroy, How did it feel to present this river? When I am here in Shanghai, It’s true that I can’t help but imagine. Where we were, a little over 5 months ago at the source, And to tell me that this gigantic river that we have here, at the mouth of the Yangtze was a little drip of nothing, at all. And I did too. We had done this scenario, we had put a lot of things on what we want to show, access to water, what will it bring, what does it allow? It’s true that I had to see it, It took meeting people to really understand the role and place of water in our society. After, we had a good laugh, No You think I said something right, Loïc, No F… I think we forgot to say that it will still be a lot of fun for 5 months. Between brothers, Yeah. I still have a headache, as on the high plateaus. No, It’s not true. Bye bye.

Loïc et Geoffroy arrivent à Wuhan, ville de 9,7 millions d’habitants. Ils se lient d’amitié avec une famille de pêcheurs de fer. Tous les matins, armés d’aimants attachés à une corde, les trois fils de la famille partent sur leurs embarcations pour remonter le fer perdu dans le fleuve.
Au Museum d’Histoire Naturelle de la ville, un professeur d’université leur parle de la disparition du Dauphin du Yangtsé due à l’activité humaine.
Après 5 mois d’expédition, nos deux aventuriers arrivent enfin à Shanghai. Cette ville incarne la modernité. Ils visitent le plus grand parc industriel d’Asie où l’eau est assainie avant d’être rejetée dans la mer.

Réalisateur : Loïc et Geoffroy de La Tullaye

00:00 La Naissance du Dragon
25:37 Le Réveil du Dragon
50:35 La Croissance du Dragon
01:14:45 Le Souffle du Dragon
01:39:19 L’Envol du Dragon