The small town of Genhe, on the northern flank of the Greater Khingan Mountains, is home to a population of less than 200 people of the Ewenki ethnic group, who still survive by hunting. In addition to hunting wild game, they breed and herd reindeer, making them the last such tribe in China.

For a long time, the living standard of the Ewenki remained at a relatively low level due to their primitive hunting mode and nomadic lifestyle. As forest area decreased, the animal population dropped along with it — which became an increasing threat to the survival of the group's traditional nomadic way of life. To improve living conditions for the Ewenki, the local government established a settlement at the foot of the mountain, with various facilities such as schools, museums, and clinics.

On August 10, 2003, automobiles were dispatched to help the Ewenki move down the mountain, along with their domesticated reindeer, which were transported safely in cages to the new home. As he captured the relocation process with his lens, Wang Fuchun met an Ewenki university student named Niu Rika, who was operating a Nikon camera to record the beginning of his family's new life with great excitement. "I'd love to do something for my people to change our future," said the young man, eager to share the rewards of modern civilization with his family.

In contrast to the youthful excitement of Niu Rika, most elderly Ewenki were understandably reluctant to leave their mountain homes and lifestyle. Maria Suo, who is in her 70s and an owner of 100 reindeer, was highly revered by the tribespeople as an elder. She firmly opposed moving down the mountain. According to her son, Maria was reluctant to move because her late husband's grave was nearby her mountain home.

Ultimately, all of the Ewenki herders except for Maria moved to their new homes at the foot of the mountain.

However, when Wang Fuchun revisited the settlement three years later, he was surprised to find that many Ewenki had left their new homes and moved back to higher elevation.

At her home deep in the mountains, Maria welcomed Wang Fuchun. Wang was surprised to find Maria without the eyeglasses she had worn years earlier. Her vision had been corrected with cataract surgery at a hospital down below. But despite this, when mentioning the resettlement, she remained loyal to her mountain home. "I understand the houses were well-intentioned, but there is nothing more than buildings and cars in the town," she remarked. "The reindeer's homes are rows of iron cages, where they can only drink bad-tasting tap water. Unlike cattle, horses, and sheep, which survive by eating grass, reindeer eat only moss and mushrooms. How can they find moss and mushrooms in cages? The reindeer is not a captive-bred species, so the animals should not be kept in a stable."

Some herders, who share Maria's philosophy, have returned to the mountain. Rather than dissuade them, the local government respected their choice and continued to develop effective measures to help improve their lives. Today, Ewenki people use LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) as a cooking fuel and have mobile phones for communication. But still, in their hearts, the forest is their permanent home.