TV: Come travel with Zhang Ziyi

2009/11/12

PREMIERING tomorrow on the National Geographic Channel (Astro Channel 553) at 10pm, the Zhang Ziyi Travel Series has the Beijing-born international movie star taking viewers on a personal journey of discovery with the help of local guides and famous friends such as photographer Yu Tsai. Originally created by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Zhang Ziyi Travel Series is a National Geographic co-production with the hotel group to unveil the exceptional landscapes of Oman and Inner Mongolia, and to show the determination of local people to nurture their heritage, culture, history, music and art, and preserve Mother Nature.
In episode one, we journey with Ziyi to watch endangered turtle eggs hatch on a beach in Oman and see her dance with Bedouin warrior-musicians.
In episode two, she stars in a stunning high-fashion photo shoot on the wild steppes of Inner Mongolia, and follows a herd of wild horses at dawn.
“We are delighted to contribute towards environmental awareness and conservation that make people sit up and think about what they can do to care for the planet,” said Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts managing director and chief executive officer Madhu Rao.
Filmed in high-definition, Zhang Ziyi Travel Series presents a variety of visuals and stills of art and historical images of the most stunning natural landscapes from Ziyi’s perspective.
Below is an interview with her:

Question: What are the objectives of this project and its impact on you?
Answer: The goal is to travel to different cities in various countries within a year. So far, I’ve been to Mongolia in China and the desert in the Middle East. I feel a connection with nature and wild animals after doing this project.

Q: What are the unforgettable moments of your trips?
A: We had the opportunity to travel to the Middle East to learn about the protection of sea turtles and see thousands of dolphins swimming in the ocean. I am now able to appreciate everything that nature provides to us in our daily lives, and how important it is to protect the environment.

Q: What was interesting about studying the sea turtles?
A: When we were waiting for the turtles to lay their eggs, we had no idea how long we would have to wait. We were waiting in the desert at night, using infrared light so we wouldn’t scare the turtles.

Q: What was it like observing the dolphins?
A: I feel dolphins have a strong connection with us — look how they are adored by so many!
I have seen dolphins in many sea parks and vacations, but I never imagined seeing thousands of them swimming right in front me. It was amazing!
They would jump out of the water as they swam in the ocean. That was definitely an unforgettable moment in my life.

Q: Has this documentary changed your perception of the environment and what do you hope to achieve by it?
A: It got me spending more time exploring the environment.
Many celebrities use their fame to educate the public on issues such as environmental conservation and protection. This has resulted in more people taking time to learn about and care for the environment.

Q: You have spent over a year filming this project. How is it different from filming a movie and how did you get involved in this project?
A: I love animals and children very much. So once I heard about this project, I was very happy to accept the offer to host it.

You cannot re-take your shots in a documentary because it will be unnatural.
I also don’t have a script so I can say anything and ask any questions I like. Also, unlike a film which is shot scene by scene, a documentary involves continuous shooting.

Q: What were the challenges you faced in this project?
A: The biggest challenge of being a host is having to interview many people from all walks of life. — Courtesy of National Geographic