Cui Jia: Two types of isolation

Best story: Refugees living in China. The number of refugees from Syria has been rising in China because of the conflict in the Middle Eastern country. Meeting some of them gave me many insights into their lives, and I hope my story helped people understand a little more about the fractured lives of refugees and asylum seekers.

Most interesting person: Hasan Wormanbek, an 76-year-old eagle hunter from the Ily Kazak autonomous prefecture, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who still hunts during winter with a golden eagle he regards as a "son".

Most memorable reporting experience: During summer, I visited Dalitabuyi, the smallest and most isolated township deep in the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang. I wanted to see what people's lives are like in one of China's remotest communities. The people were very happy with their lives, despite living in houses made from the wood of the desert willow, and isolated in the vast desert at least 10 hours from the nearest county seat. The villagers told me that they never understand why people in big cities need so many material things, and are often unhappy. It struck me as a very good question.

Best quote: "I didn't know the difference between right and wrong until it was too late. I wasted the best years of my life in a terrorist cell when I could have been doing something truly meaningful."

Mardan Maolahong, former member of an overseas terrorist cell who lost his lower right leg during combat. He has now rejected the group and its teachings.