The six-part documentary series Heart of the Wild (秘境深处), co-produced by Beijing Forestry University, has become China's most-watched nature documentary of 2025, drawing a 1.494% premiere rating and reaching over 510 million households, according to the National Radio and Television Administration.

Filmed across 30+ protected areas from Xishuangbanna rainforests to Himalayan glaciers, the documentary features unprecedented wildlife behaviors through six episodes: Forest Spirits (森林生灵), Secrets of Qilian Mountains (秘境祁连山), Northern Wilderness (北域精灵), Desert Reborn (荒漠生机), Tibetan Plateau Mysteries (雪域秘境) and Qinling Treasures (秦岭瑰宝).

As part of BFU's ecological outreach initiative with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration's Nature Reserve Research Center, the university has collaborated with protected areas nationwide to co-produce documentary series for China Central Television (CCTV). These include the 4K series Nature's Witness (秘境之眼) and Nature's Last Stand (自然保护地的奇迹), which have garnered acclaim from both experts and the public.

This year, nature documentaries lead China's non-fiction market with 7.94 billion views with Deep in the Wild (秘境深处), a standout in this category, ranking as the most-watched natural geography documentary, which demonstrates public appetite for science-based ecological storytelling and showcases BFU's commitment to advancing ecological awareness. In the future, BFU will continue collaborating with national media to advance environmental education through innovative formats.

Links:

Forest Spirits《秘境深处》| 森林生灵：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/08/VIDEa5B6NVlfPwq7D9D5SQTi250108.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Secrets of Qilian Mountains《秘境深处》| 秘境祁连山：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/09/VIDEX8KGJ9vD9woDAQR7JeyB250109.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Northern Wilderness《秘境深处》| 北域精灵：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/10/VIDE4myMK1WVtbO63ki5tamW250110.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Desert Reborn《秘境深处》| 荒漠生机：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/14/VIDE9fD2aThw7YLsBbK3iSKG250114.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Tibetan Plateau Mysteries《秘境深处》| 雪域秘境：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/15/VIDE7zQG0yj9cfqbtjxNB17q250115.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Qinling Treasures 《秘境深处》| 秦岭瑰宝：https://tv.cctv.cn/2025/01/22/VIDEmW3djXZ4kfTJZb5fyJ8r250122.shtml?spm=C55924871139.Pgs04HUnRbTI.0.0

Written by Zang Xiaorong, Du Hua
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang