Bird walking in Beijing!

Why has the snake, often feared, been revered in Chinese culture and become one of the 12 zodiac animals? How is it portrayed in artifacts, and what does it symbolize in China compared to other cultures? In this episode, we explore the serpent's evolving meanings in Chinese civil ...  Show more

Like the finest wines, the best inspiration for poetry is brewed and vivified, if served in the right vessel. In this episode, we present a phoenix-headed tricolor ceramic wine vessel from the Tang Dynasty, some 1200 years ago. In what ways did it influence the development of Chi ...  Show more

Hello internet! This week's episode is all about the history and etiquette of BIRD WATCHING! Enjoy and be sure to share with a friend!

Comedian Des Bishop finds out what makes the chinese laugh. He has learnt Mandarin to take his jokes to China. He finds that there is a long tradition of comedy in China called Xiangsheng, or Crosstalk, often in the form of two comedians playing off each other. Join him in a come ...  Show more

Of all the great reasons to visit Beijing, one of the simple pleasures that tops most visitors' lists is the simple "stroll through the hutongs." These twisty old Beijing alleyways are traditional, they're charming, and they're a great way to get blissfully lost in Beijing. In to ...  Show more

Humans have been accidentally feeding wild birds for millennia; any leftover food scraps to be scooped up by opportunistic, feathered friends. The deliberate feeding of birds, however - placing seeds out on a feeder in the garden, taking crumbs to a nearby park or lake – is a mor ...  Show more