Advances in wildlife preservation techniques have been fueling a steady rise in the wild giant salamander population in China's largest wild giant salamander nature reserve, lifting the rare amphibian's population to 13,800.
The reserve, located in Zhangjiajie City, central China's Hunan Province, is home to 745 rivers and streams, all protected to allow wildlife to thrive.
In Zhangjiajie's giant salamander rescue and breeding center, a 3,000-square-meter ecological breeding area features over 100 caves for the salamanders.
Researchers there have been meticulously replicating their natural habitats by constructing streams and caves, enabling the salamanders to mate and reproduce naturally.
The efforts have paid off. Recent data indicates that the wild giant salamander population in Zhangjiajie has increased to 13,800, nearly doubling from 7,000 in 2015.
Known as the "infant fish" in Chinese because its vocalization bears a striking resemblance to the crying of a young human child, the giant salamander is the largest extant amphibian in the world and can reach up to two meters in length. The species can date back over 100 million years to the Jurassic period, earning it another nickname as a "living fossil of the water".
Listed as "extremely endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, it is crucial to the protection of global biodiversity resources.
Hunan strengthens wild giant salamander protection at replicate habitat
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
