Life Upclose

China is no doubt the world's largest car market. Moreover, as the nation's wealth continues to grow, its aviation industry has been on the rise and draws an increasing number of young people to get onboard.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of traditional Chinese learning and culture promoted by some scholars, parents, government and non-government organizations. Since China has been striving for modernity over the past few decades, this comeback of traditional Chinese learning at schools and on a larger societal level claims to re-discover the country's cultural roots and help achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. (This program is hosted by Sam Duckett, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)

China has seen hundreds of millions of internal migrants seeking a better life in mega cities and other developed regions. Beijing, the Chinese capital, alone accommodates more than eight million such people. Jobs, housing, education, and cultural assimilation--these issues affect whoever wants to settle down in a modern metropolis. While migrants in Europe are striving to control their fate, these domestic migrants in China are also struggling to improve their own lives. (This program is hosted by Sam Duckett, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)

A wild fruit, called the August melon, is being promoted as a health food by

authorities in Sichuan Province and a team of agricultural researchers. As well

as being marketed commercially, the melon also has a role to play in efforts to

alleviate local poverty. But its road to the mass market and becoming a daily

consumed fruit has not been easy.

In modern Chinese cities, restaurants, supermarkets and other food distributors dump millions of tons of uneaten waste food every year. This appalling scale of food waste is in sharp contrast to a long-standing Chinese tradition which placed emphasis on food thrift. At the same time, millions of residents across the country are classified as poor, and many of them are actually in need of food. How is it possible to tackle the food waste and help the poor at the same time? A trial solution has been found with inspiration drawn from developed nations. (This program is hosted by Manling, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)

China is known throughout the world for its elegant blue-and-white porcelain. But this exquisite traditional craftsmanship isn't just restricted to small receptacles; the craft has been used to build a massive iconic building complex in the city of Nanchang, the capital of central Jiangxi Province.The building complex, called the Wanda Mall, has been crafted out of various shapes of traditional Chinese porcelain bowls, and embodies the attractiveness of traditional Chinese culture in modern times.The construction of such a cultural and architectural masterpiece has only been possible thanks to the devotion of a host of the best Chinese porcelain designers, engineers and architects.

China is one of the world's largest energy consumers and its quest for clean energy has been intensifying over the years. As a result, solar power, an easily accessible clean energy, is being promoted across the vast country. The use of this new form of energy has not only seeped into the daily lives of residents, it has also helped improve and upgrade related industries, such as agriculture. A typical example of this nationwide adoption of clean energy is Liangjiahuang Village in Jimo City in eastern Shandong Province. Dubbed as a solar power village, life and production activities in the village have greatly benefited from the new energy.

Food, sightseeing, shopping, and cultural experience--all of this is being sought by hundreds of millions of Chinese people who get on the road and travel around the nation every long public holiday. From the dazzling modern city of Shanghai to the world's highest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the vast Chinese land offers its residents a great variety for them to experience and explore. The current seven-day National Day Holiday is no exception. Scenic spots across the country are filled again with the sounds of joyful men, women, and children enjoying their time off. It's predicted that 598 million Chinese are likely to hit the road, at home and abroad, during the holiday, up 12 percent from last year. (This program is hosted by Sam Duckett, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)

In some parts of China, residents are quietly struggling in a hazardous living environment, whether it be either air, water or soil pollution. As they yearn for a safe and healthy life, these residents are making their own, sometimes painful, efforts to address the problem. (This program is hosted by Sam Duckett, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)

Tang Xin is the director of Taikang Space, one of the most vital non-profit art organizations in China. For the past 20 years she has devoted her passion and time to organize art exhibitions. The curator, with her own understanding of art, is also trying to influence the understanding and aesthetic tastes of ordinary Chinese people. (This program is hosted by Sam Duckett, written and produced by Yin Xiuqi)