Writer finds she's a natural in the wilderness

How to See Deer By: Zhou Wei Publisher: The Commercial Press Year Published: 2014 Price: 35 yuan ($5.64) Pages: 236

"Personally, I find the tradition of nature writing in Chinese literature has always been something of a leisure literature - it's more of a private taste, a connoisseur's hobby, lacking a bigger vision or environmental consciousness," she says.

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"Modern nature writers in China do not have their own tradition to rely on, and they have to turn to other traditions, such as nature writing in North America."

When Zhou became a visiting scholar at University of Nevada, Reno in 2011, she visited Walden Pond like a pilgrim, and she also concluded her book with an independent chapter dedicated to "Thoreau and his Walden Pond".

As a lover of nature, however, Zhou doesn't deny city life, and she thinks cities shouldn't be seen as opposite to nature.

"I still remember when I was traveling in Hong Kong. I found a nice, quiet urban park amid the busiest streets and took a walk there. It was a very refreshing walk."

In Zhou's opinion, cities can be beautiful and inspiring, as long as people take heed of urban planning and population control, and take the habitat of wild animals into account during the process of urbanization.

"Human beings won't go anywhere if they don't know when to stop and leave the wild creatures alone. We have encroached on wildlife habitats too far," she says.