A Uygur girl on the grassland. [Photo by Niu Siyuan/chinadaily.com.cn]

Makanau is among only a few people in China who still know how to train eagles to hunt for rabbits and foxes. It is mainly a tradition to people from Kirgiz and Kazak ethnic groups. The number of eagles allowed to be trained has also been strictly controlled because they are protected animals in China.

Niu, a professional documentary cameraman and producer, is quite familiar with sophisticated digital cameras but he said the very moment showing the connection between human and nature that deeply touched him and many others around the world can only be taken with his phone because it is always in his pockets and taking picture with mobile phones is more like a gut reaction.