Shenzhen author Nan Zhaoxu will give a talk on rare species and animals that live in Shenzhen. The talk will be in Chinese.

    A former American and European literature teacher with Shanxi University in North China, Nan moved to Shenzhen in 1989 and produces documentaries on culture and history.

    He hikes and photographs wildlife in Shenzhen as a hobby. In 2014, he published his Chinese-language “Notes of Landscape in Shenzhen,” telling readers that Shenzhen is not only a place where we make money, but also a beautiful place with scenic coastlines, centuries-old trees, hundreds of species of birds, thousands of kinds of flowers and 80 kinds of coral.

    The book is considered by readers to be a landmark in Shenzhen’s nature-conservation movement. It features more than 1,800 photos extolling the beauty of Shenzhen’s wildlife and emphasizing that humans are very much a part of it.

    In the 222-page paperback, Nan displays the wonders of nature, which can be found not only in the remote corners of the world but also at the foot of field hedges and small hills in rural Shenzhen. With an eye for subtle beauty, Nan visited the city’s coastlines, mountains, rivers and villages more than 350 times from 2004 to 2013 with his friends, recording his observations of rare insects, plants and animals.

    At the event, Nan will also talk about Shenzhen’s history based on his research and his 2010 Chinese-language book “Behind the Old Files of Shenzhen.”

    The 247-page paperback discloses historical events in Shenzhen from 1949 to 2009 little known by most Shenzheners. The book, which Nan took 10 years researching in local museums and archives, includes more than 300 rare photos. It follows a similar book Nan published in 2009 titled “Shenzhen Memories 1949-2009.”

    Time: 2:30-5 p.m., July 9

    Sign up: WeChat (OCT_hcf)

    Venue: OCT Life Hall, behind Walmart, 15 Qiaocheng Street West, Nanshan District (南山区侨城西街15号华生活馆)

    Metro: Luobao Line, OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit B2

    (Cao Zhen)