As Chinese civilization spread, many ancient Chinese began to dream of distant vistas. Braving the raging seas, they brought not only new ideas to the lands they visited, but also rice seeds. In this episode, we trace the journey of rice across the ocean to Japan and show how it spawned a new way of life and culture.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

As a crop, rice was originally cultivated in the southern part of China. So how did it make its way to the northern reaches of the country? In this episode, we find that the tale of its spread across China almost amounts to a history of an entire civilization!

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

Rice is a worldwide foodstuff that has played a fundamental role in shaping human civilization. In this episode, we trace the journey of rice to China's Yangtze River region and further south, the heartlands of prehistoric rice cultivation, to reveal the epic human story behind this seemingly simple grain.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

British porcelain designer Guy Thompson is working on a hexagon lampshade in Jingdezhen, China’s porcelain capital. For him, making the lampshade is not just a challenge. It’s part of a life-changing decision.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

Jehanne de Biolley is an accessory designer from Belgium. Jehanne is working on pieces for the new season. She got inspired by an art form from the mountains in southwest China’s Guizhou Province - Miao embroidery.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

Tea silk is a unique Chinese silk with more than 500 years of history. Because of this rare material, Kathrin von Rechenberg came to China from Munich, Germany, 20 years ago, and has never left since. For her, tea silk is something irreplaceable.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

Lacquerware technique has been around for 7,000 years in China. The ancient art has drawn French artist Vincent Cazeneuve to spend over a decade in Chongqing where he uses modern means of artistic expression to represent his surroundings that he’s familiar with.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

Colin Siyuan Chinnery is a sound artist from the UK. In 2013, Chinnery made a device that carries the sounds of old Beijing. These sounds tell a story of the former commercial prosperity in old Beijing.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

The Silk Road has been a motor for regional prosperity for centuries. As in the past, it continues to drive the development of international metropolises today.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou

For thousands of years, the Silk Road has witnessed numerous reunions among its brave travelers. Amid a multitude of arrivals and departures, innumerable lives have been transformed.

Editor: Luo Wen

Operation: Qiu Ruiqi

Producer: Li Xin

Chief Editor: Zhang Wan

Supervisor: Wang Feizhou