Evie Liu at CNN gives a brief sketch of a small village in northeastern China where falconry is still a common practice among local men:
In China’s Jilin province, the tiny rural community of Ying Tun — known here as the “Falcon Village” — the 55-year-old Zhao has, like many of his ancestors, dedicated his entire life to training the fierce feathered creatures.
[…] Deep in the northeast, Jilin borders North Korea and Russia. It’s the home of China’s ethnic Manchu, who continue to practice ancient traditions in an effort to preserve their culture.
[…] Like hunting and horse racing, raising falcons — once a form of leisure and entertainment for royals — remains an admired practice in the region, considered a show of bravery and man’s conquest over nature. [Source]
The area holds a Falcon Culture Festival each year in early January, when many visitors come to experience traditional Manchu culture.
