The swallow in Chinese culture
Beijing and the swallow have a close history that can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty. The swallow was the mythical ancestor of this dynasty, which is why the swallow is a totem animal and the capital’s ancient name was Yanjing, or swallow capital. In Chinese poetry, the swallow is often a symbol of love, and it is an interesting coincidence that swallows are also a traditional part of weddings in the West.

About the Swallow
Every year in April, the swallow returns to Beijing, primarily to raise its next generation during the warm and comfortable spring and summer months. The swallows lay 2-4 eggs and both parents take turns sitting on them for 21-23 days. When the birdlings hatch, they spend their first months in Beijing learning from their parents how to fly and get food before they all fly south to warmer regions for the winter.
This particular type of swallow made Beijing its home early on because of Beijing's unique traditional architecture. The birds would make their homes in the characteristic eaves of the roof. The “building” swallow's nest is simple. Most of them are exquisitely shaped like a small dish, and made from plants, flowers, paper, hay etc. They will often return to the same nest year after year.
Swallows play an important role in pest control and maintaining ecological balance, as they eat insects and mosquitoes. These birds rely on a safe and plentiful water supply, so polluted water poses a challenge to their survival. They can be used as an indicator of environment quality in the city. For example, their feathers and eggshells can be analyzed for heavy metals, indicating the quality of the local water supply.

The Swallow is Threatened
As traditional buildings are being torn down to make way for new modern constructions, these birds are losing their habitats. The extensive use of pesticides is also posing a challenge to birds and contaminating their food sources.

What you Can Do
Hanging bird boxes and constructing buildings with eaves for nesting can provide safe new homes for these birds. Strengthening environmental protection and decreasing the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals can also help ensure healthy bird populations. Bird watching is also a great way to get to know and understand nature.

The roof swallow can fly up to 110km/hr. With this kind of speed and agility, the swallow represents the athleticism of the Olympic Games.
Some of Ni Ni’s Olympic Sports include:
Gymnastics
Volleyball
Softball
Rowing
Fencing