The sea turtle - haigui - may be one of the animal kingdom's most endangered species, but in its allegorical sense, it thrives. Each year - just like the haigui - thousands of Chinese set out for distant lands, looking to discover a wealth of knowledge. There's a well-trodden path, trampled out by generations of Chinese students, leading to every one of the planet's top universities. Some never make it - they're caught up in the massive competition, financial restraints or bureaucracy before they ever even leave these shores. But those that do get through either settle in their adopted land, or, as is more popular these days, schools of haigui return to their homeland to share that wealth.