An injured falcon undergoes treatment. The traditional sport of falconry continues to prevail in a small village in Northeast China’s Jilin province, despite a long-standing debate between its value as a symbol of cultural heritage versus wildlife protection. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The area near the claw of an injured falcon gets bandaged. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Teng Zhongnan, 38, is a local falconer in Yingtun village in Northeast China’s Jilin province, where falconry has been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Teng carries his falcon out from the hawkery to feed it. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Teng and his father trains the falcon to hunt. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A falcon is transported in a car. To ease the concerns over the ethics of the falconry, local falconers usually use rescued falcons for performances. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

As part of a show, a pigeon, tied by a string, is let loose as a prey for the falcon. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The falconer gestures to the falcon (lower left) for it to make a loop at the site. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A group of photographers from East China’s Jiangxi province, thousands of miles away from Jilin province, photograph and document the falcon’s performance. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The falcon overturns a camera. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The falcon is fed fresh chicken as it perches on Teng’s hand. The falcon usually eats the food quickly, after which its crop will bulge as it digests the food slowly, Teng told Caixin. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The tamed falcon stands on the right arm of Teng Zhongnan, under a banner which reads “Jilin’s Falcon King.” Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Teng displays the traditional tools used to tame falcons. The centuries-old practice is criticized by animal protection activists because taming falcons may amount to animal abuse. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Yingtun village is located in the city of Jilin in the northeastern province of the same name. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin