National Geographic Announces New Natural History Special "The Hidden Kingdoms of China"

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Nat Geo and Nat Geo WILD announced today the new two-hour wildlife special The Hidden Kingdoms of China, which premieres this winter in 172 countries and 43 languages. Spanning from China's highest of mountains and plateaus to its thickest jungles and bamboo forests, The Hidden Kingdoms of China reveals the mysteries of the country's wildlife, some of which rarely have been captured on film, until now.

With unique access to sites throughout the world's most populous country, The Hidden Kingdoms of China transports audiences to five very different worlds - the high mountains, tropical jungles, bamboo forests, great plains and temperate forests. "Stars" of these kingdoms include iconic and charismatic animals - the snow leopard, the giant panda, the Tibetan fox, the golden snub-nosed monkey and a stunning kaleidoscope of jungle creatures.

"National Geographic has long encouraged a spirit of exploration, and China's vast landscape and great variety of wildlife offer many hidden treasures," says Geoff Daniels, executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Global Networks. "In The Hidden Kingdoms of China, we unveil the wonder, mystery and myth surrounding these creatures."

Using high-specification drones, camera traps and the latest 4K camera technology to engage with these special animals, The Hidden Kingdoms of China brings China's magical realms to life in the most dramatic ways possible. Both sweeping in scale and touchingly intimate in its depictions of wildlife, the special takes a closer look at a wild paradise that is like no other on Earth.

The Hidden Kingdoms of China is produced by Brian Leith Productions in association with CWCA and BiliBili. Ashley Hoppin is executive producer for National Geographic, and Janet Han Vissering is senior vice president of development and production. Geoff Daniels is executive vice president of global unscripted entertainment for National Geographic Global Networks.

About Brian Leith Productions

Brian Leith Productions is a truly independent producer specializing in 'hand-crafted' films with high production values for the international market: the intriguing boundary where man meets nature! We love stories about wildlife and wilderness, which are more than just 'blue chip' - where nature meets landscape, history and even politics. Brian and the team have won numerous awards over the years as Producer Director and Executive Producer for a variety of broadcasters including BBC, ITV, PBS, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Animal Planet as well as many European broadcasters such as France TV, RAI, ORF, Terra Mater, the CBC, Disneynature and Netflix.

About National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between the National Geographic Society and Disney, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 131 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers ... and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.