Wang Yanfei: Meeting the military, 'collecting smog'

Most interesting people: Pilots from the People's Liberation Army Air Force Aviation University in Changchun, Jilin province, who shared their experiences and stories. Unlike many military people, they were surprisingly approachable and our discussions were conducted in a very relaxed manner.

Best Interview: In December, a postdoctoral student was killed in a chemical explosion in a laboratory. It was hard to ask witnesses about the incident because many were still very emotional. I managed, but it was a tough learning curve.

Most memorable reporting experience: I went to a village in Henan province to interview people who had to leave their hometown because of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. I was impressed by their positive attitudes, and by the way they made light of their "sacrifices". I knew their stories would not be headline news, but they were worth recording because the project will have a long-term effect on the nation.

Best quote: "There is something I can do to call public attention to the fact that air pollution is really posing a terrible threat to human health."

"Jianguo Xiongdi", a performance artist who embarked on a 100-day project in Beijing to "collect" smog with a special vacuum cleaner.