8000 of the birds were released into the winter sky in northern Hebei Province last month, one of the many long distance races holding out a promise of fame and fortune.

上個月，8000只鳥兒被放飛到河北省北部的冬日天空，這是眾多抱著名利雙收承諾的長距離比賽之一。

Pigeons have been raised in China since at least the 16 hundreds, but lately the ranks of hobbyists have swelled.

中國至少從16百年前就開始養鴿子了，但近來愛好養鴿子的人隊伍卻在不斷膨脹。

The Chinese Pigeon Association counts around 400,000 members, dwarfing the number in Belgium, where the sport first got its start.

中國信鴿協會擁有約40萬名會員，與這項運動最初起步的比利時相比相形見絀。

Zhao Zhang breeds and trains pigeons in a coop on his parents roof, he looks for strong wings, Ah, healthy constitution and bright eyes.

趙章在父母屋頂的鴿棚裡養鴿子、訓鴿子，他看中的是翅膀強壯、啊、體格健康、眼睛明亮。

Theo eyes are the window to their souls.

西奧的眼睛是他們靈魂的窗口。

The brightness of their eyes shows how healthy and clever the birds are.

它們的眼睛明亮，顯示出鳥兒的健康和聰明。

China's breeders have a reputation for their passion for pigeons, but Zhao says, there's a financial angle is, well, way successfully raised, a good racing pigeon.

中國的養鴿人對鴿子的熱情是有口皆碑的，但趙先生說，有一個經濟的角度是，嗯，方式成功養出了，一羽好的賽鴿。

It's going to be very expensive.

這將是非常昂貴的。

It will be worth a lot of money.

會值很多錢。

Bids flew at a recent auction in Beijing.

最近在北京舉行的一場拍賣會上，競價飛起。

One pigeon, a racing champion, sold for more than $750,000 for breeders like Mr Ying, who bought six birds at the event.

像應先生這樣的種鴿，有一羽賽會冠軍鴿，以75萬餘元的價格成交，他在活動中買了6羽鴿子。

Money is not an obstacle.

錢不是障礙。

I'm in love with pigeons.

我愛上了鴿子。

That's it.

就這樣吧

In a nutshell.

一言以蔽之：

Pigeons come first.

鴿子是第一位的。

In my heart, my wife and Children are 2nd and 3rd.

在我心裡，妻子和孩子是第二、第三。

The recent surge and enthusiasm for pigeons has pushed prices higher.

近期鴿子的數量激增，熱情高漲，推高了價格。

One breeder made headlines last month when he splashed out $1.9 million for this pigeon named New Kim at an auction in Belgium.

上個月，一位種鴿家在比利時的一次拍賣會上，花190萬美元買下了這隻名叫新金的鴿子，成為頭條新聞。

Besides the cost of the birds, there's also the upkeep.

除了鳥兒的成本，還有保養。

One pigeon fans here in Shanghai, Mr You spends more than $30,000 a year on his flock of 500 all worth it, he says.

上海這裡的一位鴿迷尤先生每年花3萬多元買下他的500只鴿群都是值得的，他說。

One of his pigeons, Little Ancestor, took first place in the recent race in Hubei Province.

他的一羽鴿子 "小祖宗 "在近期湖北省的比賽中獲得了第一名。

Things pigeon broke the record in the national competition.

事情鴿在全國比賽中破紀錄。

It is unprecedented for a young pigeon to fly back in just one day, a feat, he said.

他說，一隻幼鴿僅用一天時間就飛回來，這是前所未有的壯舉。