Getting up, close and personal with nature

Armed with a flashlight and a camera, Li Yunjie, an eighth grade student, emerges from a park late one evening with a bottle of cicada grubs.

Her little adventure is just one of many that form part of her optional nature class that runs every Wednesday. It was started by Ni Yinong, a biology teacher of 20 years with the Middle School Affiliated to Peking University.

The idea behind the class that began two years ago, Ni says, is to give students suffering from what he calls "nature-deficit disorder" a chance to bridge the gap.