Storyline China's birdwatching frenzy fuels photography equipment sales [Voice_over] In China, where birdwatching is growing as a hobby, sales of photography gear like cameras and lenses are taking flight, with enthusiasts investing in pro-level equipment. Shanghai-based shutterbug Ni Jiong only took up birdwatching a few months ago, but already considers himself a devoted birder who routinely travels to far flung locations in search of the perfect avian moment. From crop-sensor cameras to a red dot sight-which is a mounted device used to quickly locate and track birds, Ni owns a carefully curated collection of gear for bird photography. [Sound_bite] Ni Jiong, birdwatching enthusiast: "Through photography and my camera lens, I'm able to capture the beautiful forms and colors of diverse bird species - it's truly magical. In April I traveled to Hangzhou, then Nanjing in May. Along the way, I've made many friends with fellow birdwatchers." [Voice_over] As the country's birdwatching community continues to grow, photography equipment retailers say things like compact, fast-focusing telephoto lenses are now in high demand. [Sound_bite] Pei Yuzhuo, general manager, photography equipment store: "Our best-sellers are 70-300mm telephoto lenses, with sales doubling year-over-year thanks to growing public enthusiasm for bird photography. Enthusiasts are becoming more skilled at capturing birds and they want better equipment." [Voice_over] Data showed that at the end of 2023, there were 340,000 birdwatching enthusiasts in China, an increase of about 200,000 from 2018. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]