Yan Minmin is a famed composer. Her composing style is versatile as she fuses musical elements from around the world with the unique sounds of Chinese instruments. In this episode, Yan joins us again and brings us several of her recent works, with Chinese drums as the lead instrument. Wang Jianan, a percussion performer with the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, will provide his understanding from the angle of the performing artist of these pieces.

Staying healthy is essential for living a fulfilling life. On many occasions, we can hear people praying for good health and well-being, such as on New Year's Day and birthdays. China's Double Ninth Festival also celebrates wellness and longevity. In this episode, we invite several musicians on our show to share songs that reflect the unique customs carried out around this time of the year.

In this episode, we’ll present to you an orchestral suite titled Dang Kang by the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Orchestra. "Dang Kang" was derived from an auspicious beast with the same name, which was introduced in one of the earliest collections of Chinese mythologies titled The Classic of Mountains and Seas. The piece consists of six parts, most of which were composed based on well-known Chinese folklores. It portrays the optimism and persistence needed to overcome life's obstacles.

Founded in 2015, the Beijing Traditional Chinese Orchestra's musical style has an authentic Beijing sound with creative improvisations. Li Changjun is director of the ensemble and shares with us some intriguing stories about how the orchestra has made a breakthrough among Millennials and Gen Zers.

There's an old saying that families that play together stay together. The Chinese Moon Festival also celebrates family reunion as the round shape of a full moon symbolizes family gathering. On this particular day, family members in China and other Asian countries typically enjoy the fullness of the moon together. For those that are moon lovers, apart from admire it conventionally in the night sky, we are also able to appreciate it in many historical murals in China, more specifically in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang. In this episode, we will bring you several musical works that were inspired by the spectacular Dunhuang murals, a rare gem in the world's history of Buddhist art.

Some say good teachers know how to bring out the best in their students. Famed Guzheng performer, educator and instrumental reformer Li Meng certainly fits that profile. In this episode, her student Miao Qing, who is now a performer with the China National Traditional Orchestra, shares with us some intriguing and memorable stories about how her mentor guided her to find the joy of music and to become a professional.

Qiao Yu, a household name in China, had a long career spanning seven decades in song and script writing. He wrote over 1,000 songs, some of which are still performed today and have gained popularity among audiences young and old. The master sadly passed away this year at the age of 95. Today, we will bring you several representative works of Qiao and listen to some audio commentaries recorded before the musical sensation passed away where he shared the story behind the music.

Can you think of a song that reminds you solely of a film that you've seen? These soundtrack songs have the remarkable ability to enhance the story, encapsulate the characters' feelings, and bring viewers into a different world and time. In this episode, we will get up-close with celebrated Guzheng instrumentalist Huang Baoqi. The zither performer will share with us her covers to remarkable film soundtracks.

Previously, we introduced to you a grand piece titled "The Epic of Manas," which narrates the story of a Kirgiz hero called Manas and his seven generations of descendants leading their people in preserving peace, unity and protecting their way of life. With 230,000 lines in total, it is reputed as the encyclopedia of the culture of the Kirgiz ethnic people living in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These days, there have been many efforts to preserve the 1000-year cultural heritage in the modern world and pass it on to future generations. In this episode, we will get a glimpse of how it is protected nowadays and we will certainly have an auditory feast of the epic.

Valentine's Day is probably one of the most awaited days for romantic couples to declare their love and affection for each other. In case you missed the special day this year, or you want to seize every opportunity to express your feelings, I have an idyllic surprise for you. For those who don't know, Chinese Valentine's Day, or the Qixi Festival, is here and love is in the air! In this episode, we will bring you several pieces to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of romance. We will also share with you a bittersweet love story behind the origins of the festival and a couple of romantic legends to mark this day.