The empowerment from the bee culture Team China Su Shi • Su Shi can be regarded as a cultural synthesizer of the honeybee in ancient China. He famously stated that he “ate no grain but honey” because “there is poetry in honey, yet the poet remains unaware.” Through his poetic imagination, he seemed to have transcended into the profound and mystical spirit of the world of bees. 追踪蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜 蜂 Apis laboriosa 黑 大 蜜 蜂 G NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会 In the highland regions of southeastern Tibet, on the southern slopes of the Himalayas in China, where the Yarlung Zangbo River, Nu River, and Jinsha River flow, blossoms flourish. This land nurtures a mysterious species of honeybee — the black giant honeybee. For thousands of years, they have built their nests and thrived on towering cliffs. In spring, they enjoy the abundant and pure nectar of countless flowers; in winter, they escape the harsh cold of the plateau by relying on the warm, moist air currents that ascend along the rivers from the Indian Ocean. The Tibetan people revere them as sacred creatures and spare no effort to protect them. In 2010, 2015, and 2018, We visited this place three times, capturing the following images. G 9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会 黑大蜜蜂采蜜 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G 9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 黑大蜜蜂生存环境 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 黑大蜜蜂蜂巢 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂 」 会 Apis dorsata 大 蜜 蜂 G NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会 Compared to the black giant honeybee, the giant honeybee population is more widely distributed. They can be found on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, across the Indochinese Peninsula, on the equatorial island of Borneo, and in various environments — on large trees in urban and rural areas, amidst flowers and grass in fields, and under the eaves of temples. Since our first encounter in 2012 in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, I have met them several times every year. Currently, their primary survival challenge comes from humans who exploit them for honey. All the photos were taken in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会 大蜜蜂采蜜 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂 」 会 大蜜蜂蜂巢 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 G 9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜂」会 Apis andreniformis 黑 小 蜜 蜂 G NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会 This is the most elusive due to its stringent habitat requirements, making its population extremely scarce. It is the species that proved the most challenging for me to find, requiring six years of effort. In 2018, with the help of several friends, I finally encountered them for the first time along the banks of the Lancang River in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan, China. These bees are small in size and prefer to build their nests high in tall grasses. In 2019, I unexpectedly came across them again in Sabah, on the island of Borneo. Among the nine bee species participating in this “gathering,” the survival of the Apis andreniformis is the most concerning. G 9 NINE SPECIES OF HONEYBEES OF THE G ENUS APIS 蜜蜂属的 9 种蜜蜂 蜂」会