Student Showcase: Yang Haokun

Exploring nature, one specimen at a time

A Passion for Nature

Do you know how to make a butterfly specimen? Or what an Alashan pit viper looks like? Many of us may recognise these names, but few know their stories. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Yang Haokun, a remarkable Shanghai Sunrise student with a deep love for the natural world.

Yang has been supported by the Rotary Club of Shanghai since his first year of high school in 2021. In September last year, he was admitted to Xinjiang Tarim University to study Business Administration. Now 19 years old, he enjoys creating insect specimens and plays both the clarinet and the erhu. His dream is to make nature documentaries and become a true storyteller of the natural world.

My Story

My fascination with nature began when I was very young.When I was three or four years old, there were no touch-screen phones—only flip phones—and our family TV was a big, boxy set. My favourite pastime was watching Animal World. I also bought many animal books and, in the process, learned to read earlier than most.

As I grew older, my mother encouraged my curiosity. She took me out in the summers to catch cicadas, praying mantises, and grasshoppers. That’s when I fell in love with observing insects and animals and learning about their behaviours and habitats.

Over time, I began making insect specimens as gifts. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion. At first, I bought butterfly specimens online and practiced basic wing-spreading techniques. Later, I started collecting butterflies myself, using proper methods to record collection information and preserve the specimens through colour protection and anti-corrosion techniques. I went from being a curious beginner to making friends who shared my interests and taught me more.

In high school, I discovered photography. I started by photographing people, then slowly shifted to landscapes, and eventually to wildlife. During the summer after my second year of high school, I travelled to Nanning, Guangxi, to collect insects, plants, and animals with friends. That experience helped me discover the joy of nature photography.

When I entered university, I arrived in Xinjiang—a region rich in biodiversity and less explored. Photographing Xinjiang’s endemic species quickly became a dream project of mine.

A Dream to Document Nature

I am now working on a documentary film about Xinjiang’s endemic species. My inspiration came from watching four National Geographic documentaries that filled me with excitement and made me think, This is what I want to do.

On weekends, I often cycle to the edge of the Taklamakan Desert to film local plants and animals. During the May holiday, I visited the Tianshan Tomur Scenic Area at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, where I photographed unique species such as the Alashan pit viper, xylocopa valga, and syntrichia caninervis mitt.

This summer, I plan to go deeper into the Taklamakan Desert and the Ili River Valley to continue filming. Although my university major is not related to wildlife or documentary filmmaking, I am committed to studying and working hard on filming and biology to build a foundation for my future career.

I am deeply grateful to Shanghai Sunrise and my sponsor, the Rotary Club of Shanghai, for supporting me all these years. Your encouragement has given me the confidence to chase my dreams.

Sharing Gratitude

In March this year, Yang presented the Rotary Club of Shanghai with a special gift—a butterfly specimen he had carefully selected and crafted himself. The club deeply appreciated the gesture and, at their annual meeting, raised RMB 3,000 for Shanghai Young Bakers, a charity program. Acts of kindness like these are how love continues to inspire others—creating ripples of positive change.

Looking Ahead

Shanghai Sunrise is proud to witness Yang’s growth—not only academically, but also in his personal journey of self-discovery. We can’t wait to see his future documentaries and join him in exploring the colourful world of nature.

About Shanghai Sunrise

Shanghai Sunrise is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization committed to creating access to education through scholarships for underprivileged Shanghai youth. Since 1996, we have raised over 34 million RMB for high school and university scholarships. This has enabled 3,200 students, who otherwise would not have had the financial means, to continue their education and have a chance at a brighter future. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in our community!